For the Hard Choices

David told her: I praise the Lord God of Israel! He must have sent you to meet me today. And you should also be praised. Your good sense kept me from taking revenge and killing innocent people.

1 Samuel 25:32–33 (CEV)

Someone close to you acted foolishly. Now 400 fighting men are coming to wipe you out. What’s your move?

While we will probably never face such a decision, some choices can feel like they are just as terrifying. We try to figure out what’s best. We worry and ask everyone for advice, lose sleep, and can’t concentrate. We wish we knew what God wanted us to do.

In today’s Bible passage, Abigail didn’t have time to think. Her foolish husband had angered the warrior David and his 400 men by not granting David’s request for food. Unless she acted quickly, the men on her farm would be slaughtered and her place destroyed.

Abigail was close to God. She was aware of God’s big plans for David’s life and that God would protect David and keep him safe. Knowing this helped her know what she had to do next. Knowing God and being close to him will always help us know what our next steps should be.

Abigail gave David a gift of food as an apology for her husband’s foolish behavior, and he accepted it. She stepped out boldly, and David let go of his anger. They stopped the crisis.

God gave Abigail wisdom to resolve a growing conflict. We, too, can rely on God to help us choose his ways and to set us on the right path for all decisions.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

When trying to make a decision, consider some of the following questions.

• Does this go against God’s Word; is it sinful?
• Does God bring to mind any Bible verses when you pray or think about the issue?
• Will this honor God?
• What do your godly mentors, chaplains, pastors, good friends say about it?
• Have you prayed about it?
• Have you spent time listening to God?
• Have you waited, patiently, for his answer?

INSPIRATION

“God doesn’t want people to do what they think is best: he wants them to do what he knows is best, and no amount of reasoning and intellectualizing will discover that.”

—Henry Blackaby, pastor and author

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Leviticus 19:18

Joshua 1:7–8

Matthew 5:9

Romans 12:17–19