David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn't deliver him into his hand. 1 Samuel 23:14 WEBAfter a long fast, we bought a wood smoker. You could call it a rebound effect. The smoker works as an outdoor slow cooker and it is common to take all day. One of the first things that we made was smoked beef brisket.
The brisket is one of the toughest pieces of meat that exists. While trimming it, I could not find a knife in our house that worked, and I tried several. We wrestled with it all over the kitchen, as we tried to hold it down and cut off the edges. An electric knife would have been better. Just trying to insert a meat thermometer would push it around the counter top like a rock.
We put it in the smoker that evening and slow cooked it for twenty four hours at 225 degrees, six hours directly on the rack, and the rest wrapped in tin foil. When we took it out, you could cut it with a fork. You no longer needed a knife at all. The toughest cut of meat was now the most tender, but it took time and heat, lots of it.
David was called, he was anointed, but he needed something else: Preparation. David had to hide from Saul for years, even though he had already been anointed as king by Samuel, and God was certainly with him. David later came out of the wilderness and became king.
Moses spent forty years in the wilderness as a simple shepherd, preparing to care for God's sheep (Acts 7:30). Moses had been a strong young man, but instead God chose to use him at eighty. After thoroughly baking him, Moses came out of the wilderness in power.
Jesus was the perfect Man, sinless, blameless and without fault. Yet He spent forty days in the wilderness before He began His ministry. It was a time of testing (Mark 1:13). Jesus came out of the wilderness walking in the power of God.
The trials that you face are preparing you for what God has in store. If you are ever going to be a leader, you will have to spend some time in the wilderness. When you come out, you will have credibility because of what you have experienced, and a testimony to share with others. God has a way of softening the toughest of us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I look to You in faith today. I know that the plans that You have for me are good. I don't understand some of the things that I am going through, but I choose to trust You because You love me and You know best. Guide me today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.Note: Good morning! The highlighted group of the week is Spiritually Single, a group focused on supporting those who are married to "pre-believers" and have to deal with the special challenges involved. This group also hosts "Fast & Pray Friday" each week to provide prayer and intentional fasting towards this goal. If that is you, or you would like to join them in prayer, you are welcome to join! ALSO, the Creation Photographers theme of the week is "Reflections of Summer" based on Genesis 8:22. As always, you are free to post anything else that inspires you, too! FINALLY, the Healthful Living challenge for the month is "Joyful in June!" - all are welcome to join us as we focus on the joy of being a child of the King!
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"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."
I love this prayer!
Prayer: Heavenly Father I look to You in faith today. I know that the plans that You have for me are good. I don't understand some of the things that I am going through, but I choose to trust You because You love me and You know best. Guide me today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen *♡* Thank you
Amen!
Amen
Amen
Thanks for this message this morning Dion...I needed this. I've been ministering in music in churches across Canada and the US. on and off over the last 40 years mainly as a bass player. In the past few years, acoustic in hand, I've been called out to share originals in local and surrounding churches and to the US. I believe for the impossible(which to me is to tour the world), but I find the road to realizing my dreams and goals are taking longer(seemingly) than I thought. Thank you for the reminder that God's timing is not ours, and to simply trust that his plan and purpose is at work, whether I see it or not.
Delight yourself in the Lord, AND HE WILL give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4.
Thanks Dion.. I will do just that!
Amen,thank you Jesus for your Grace.I love and worship you.
Another great message. Thank you Pastor Dion. Trusting in the Lord and walking by faith and not sight. Amen.
I trust in you My Lord, Amen.
This reminds me of a diomand, God keeps chipping away at our lives to make us beautiful, It is all for Gods glory. I choose not to question how long this takes, I know God keeps chipping away, and the end results are going to be beautiful.
I thank God for always holding my hand, and establishing my steps and delighting in my way, and especially creating me, I know He will never stop holding my hand. I know that He loves me, and in His timming, Will make something very beautiful out of my life. He is diffently not finished with me. I trust that He knows what He is doing with my life, and I pray that I will be willing to let Him keep doing His work on my life.
Amen.
Sooooooo good!!!!! Needed this!!!!!
Amen pastor Dion Wonderful devotional!!
God has been softening my heart and smoothing out the edges in my life for a while now, and although I've been in some tough spots, and it wasn't fun all the time, I believe God is working behind the scenes to get me right where He wants me, THANK you Father!!
Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father, I Look to You in faith today. I know that the plans that you have for me are good. I don't understand some of the things that I am going through, but I choose to trust you because you love me and you know best. Guide me today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!
Prayer: Heavenly Father I look to You in faith today. I know that the plans that You have for me are good. I don't understand some of the things that I am going through, but I choose to trust You because You love me and You know best. Guide me today, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3
Thank you for todays devotion, Pastor Dion. :-)
Amen Lord.