Find & Follow Jesus, Quarter 2Sample

Devotional:

“But David thought to himself, ‘One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.’” 1 Samuel 27:1

“And David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?’ ‘Pursue them,’ He answered. ‘You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.’” 1 Samuel 30:8

In 1 Samuel 27:1, David allowed fear to dictate his decision. Instead of seeking God’s direction, he relied on his own reasoning and chose to flee to the Philistines. This decision led to compromise, deceit, and consequences for himself and his men. It seemed logical, but it was not God’s plan.

Contrast this with 1 Samuel 30:8, when David faced another crisis. This time, after the Amalekites raided his camp and took the families of his men captive, he responded differently—he sought the Lord. Rather than reacting out of fear, David turned to God for direction, and God provided clear guidance and assurance of victory.

When David relied on his own thinking, he walked into unnecessary trouble. But when he sought God’s will, he found strength, clarity, and success. This teaches us an important lesson: Our thoughts, especially in fear, can lead us astray, but God’s wisdom is always trustworthy.

Prayer:

Pray that in moments of uncertainty, you would turn to God before making decisions. Ask Him for wisdom to guide your steps, trusting that His ways are always higher and better than our own.