Our first thought is usually to work on fixing it ourselves. We may overcommit ourselves to church activities and helping others hoping that the efforts of our hands will restore us. And while all of these activities are great, they are a poor substitute for our relationship with our Father in heaven. 

We must fight the temptation to fix and instead run with all we have left to our loving LORD  It is He who has the power to heal our faithlessness.  For He has given us His Son and Spirit to reconcile us and remind us of our sonship/daughtership in Him.  Run to Him today!

Reflection

Do you run from or to God when you are feeling faithless?

Surround yourself with others in the body of Christ to help remind you of this truth. 

Prayer

Father, thank You that You are loving and heal our faithlessness.  Guard our minds from our own desires to fix and instead give us a heart of surrender, that we may be filled with faith and joy in Jesus, Amen!

Look at the showdown with Goliath. This giant doesn’t taunt just Israel but God Himself.  The text says in 1 Samuel 17, “when all the men of Israel saw him, the fled and were greatly afraid”. So what was it the pushed David beyond fear? Listen to his own words:

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,” 

~ ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:45-46‬ ‭NASB‬‬

We know the end of this story and it doesn’t end well for Goliath.  See the pattern?

Passion for name >>> LORD gives Victory

Looking further into 2 Samuel 7, we see God interacting with David and making His covenant with him.  At the same time, God gently realigns David vision of building the temple.  The end result is a prayer to God and again lifting the name in verse 23:

“And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?”

~ ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭NASB‬‬

David from a place of humility is exulted and just as in the case of his battle with Goliath, victory follows. 

Reflection

What giants are you facing today?

Is your focus on your own strength or upholding the name of the LORD?

Where do you think David’s passion for the name of the LORD came from?

Prayer

Father, for You are mighty and Your name is deserving of all our praise.  Give us an genuine passion for You and for Your name; that every victory will be in Your strength and for Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

#truthtalk4life

#knowlivespeaktruth

@brianfriedl

Our Father in heaven knows that once we taste His goodness we can never be the same.  We may slip and fall, but we will never be satisfied with anything other than His goodness ever again.  

May you come, taste, and see the goodness of our LORD; that you too may be filled to full measure and overflowing with joy!

#truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

Take heart , For the LORD’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours and nothing is impossible with him. Our minds me forget this at times, but praise God for the Spirit who brings all things into remembrance, including our Father’s marvelous promises!

Personal Reflection

Hard times reveal who we put our trust in. So are you putting your trust in an administration? Or are you putting your trust in the one true living God, To whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD?  What if we stopped complaining about the shortcomings of the president and started trusting in the One to whom they are accountable?

Read the rest of Psalm 33. Spend some time praising him for being Lord of the nations!

Prayer Focus

Father in heaven, You are Lord of the nations. You brought all things into being and you sustain them by Your might and power. In You alone we trust.  Lead us out of the mess we have created. Establish us in Your righteousness. May we dwell in Your house forever, in Jesus Name, Amen!

This is the same God who gives us strength and peace.  There is no need to fear or worry, God is for us.  He chose to use His power to satisfy the law and to bring an eternity of peace for us.  What a mighty God we serve!

Personal Reflection

Do we really believe that nothing is impossible for God?  If we are honest we have all prayed prayers that were not specific because we were fearful they wouldn’t be answered.  Or sometimes we just avoid praying all together. The LORD is mighty in power and can do all things.  We ought to pray, boldly trusting Him.  Whether He chooses to grant what we ask is obviously up to Him.  Sometimes we give up asking because He hasn’t answered according to our will, but His and we don’t see the answer as a result.  Don’t let any of this stop you from asking your Father in heaven. What bold prayers need to be prayed today? Let’s pray them!

Prayer Focus

Father, we confess that we don’t ask sometimes because we are afraid you won’t answer.  Help us in our unbelief.  Give us the courage to pray bold prayers. We pray for our nation, we see our wickedness and we cry out to you asking for revival.  May we see our need and come running.  Change our hearts to desire only you. Teach us to walk in your ways. We will praise you forever, in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

#prayboldly #powerfulprayers #truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

Three truths hit me as I studied his passage this morning. 

We Have A King Already

Who has been leading the Israelites thus far?  God has led them out of the bondage of Egypt, declaring, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt”. He provided manna, water and later meat as well.  He is led them to the Promise Land.  He protected them from Pharoah’s elite army of chariots, guiding them every step of the way.  What king in all of history has done such things? Only one and you already have Him!

A King Apart From God Is Rejection Of God

God chose to give them their hearts desire.  Why would he do that?  Sometimes stubbornness can only be conquered by self-realization. A person may have to see the failure of their choices to see their rejection of and need for God. God is not anxious because He is sovereign.  While we have free will, He is still sovereign.  Know this, there is one throne in our lives and it is meant for God.  Any other king means rejection of God. 

Our Greatest Threat Of Wanting A King

We may compare this example to the upcoming elections in some ways.  We are all wanting the “best” president.  We invest emotions and argue point along with the best of them.  When it’s all said and done rulers are overseen by our God.  We should not desire a president more than we desire our God to be king. Traffic on this going to be sad or

Furthermore, an external ruler is chosen infrequently, the greater threat is the tendency for us to take the throne as king of our lives.  We think we can do it better than anyone else, including at times, God Himself.  If we are to live the life God has purposed for us, we must abdicate our throne and be overjoyed to have Him sit it, calling all the shots as our King of kings. 

Personal Reflection

Feeling convicted yet?  I am.  Today’s reflection is short and sweet…surrender.  Take time today to confess any part of your life where you have not welcomed God as king over.  Rejoice that we have a King above all kings!

Prayer Focus

King of kings, we humbly ask for forgiveness as we continue to try to sit in your seat.  We praise you for your mercy and patience as you show us your lovingkindness and just rule.  May you be fully King of our hearts today and may we serve you with all of our hearts, now and forevermore in Christ Jesus, Amen!

#KingOfKings #OneKingOnTheThrone #TruthTalk4Life

@brianfriedl