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 WEBOnce upon a time, after a month long fast, we bought a wood smoker. You could call it a rebound effect. The smoker works like an outdoor slow cooker and it is common to take all day. One of the first things that we made was smoked beef brisket, which I had never bought before.
I learned that 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 counter as we tried to hold it down and trim off the edges. Just trying to insert a meat thermometer would push it around the counter top like a rock. Eventually we bought an electric knife that made that part much easier.
We coated the trimmed brisket with a 50/50 salt pepper rub that evening, and put it in the refrigerator over night. The next day we placed it in the smoker at 275f directly on the rack for 6 hours. Then we removed it, wrapped it in tin foil, and put it back in at 225f over night. When we removed it the following day, it was so tender that you could pull it apart with your fingers. 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 both.
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. God had left Saul and was with David instead, but he still went through many battles and struggles. Eventually David 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 begin using him when he turned 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 prepare you for what God has in store. Many like me have been hardened by life, but God would rather us be tender and loving. If you are ever going to do something meaningful, 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: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron 7:14). If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page:
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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
Yes Lord, amen
Amen
Help me dear God to be kind always when dealing with everyone. Amen.
Thank you for that message Pastor.
Amen! One can never hurry the process God is taking you through. Hang on!
Yes amen !!! I needed that praise God
AMEN!
Amen
Amen!
Please guide us today Jesus for your will.We love and worship you. Amen
Amen
Please guide me Father to Your will for my life. I trust You, Amen.
Amen! I needed that today Pastor Dion! :) another delivery right on time!
Heavenly Father I need Your help today,I know my faith crumbles at times but still I trust in You. Lead me Father and mold me in the way You want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
As always right on time,thank you Pastor. God bless.
Amen
Amen. Awesome message.
Wonderful message. I love how you tell it like it is. Amen!
I love this devotion it gives me hope because I am going through a lot on my job. sometimes I ask m self how long God is going to allow what I am going through to last. Because this morning my vehicle break down call my company to let them know what happens only to get a call from them about a patient phone call. No one bother to ask me if I am ok or if my vehicle is fine. Thank God my vehicle break down at home and not on the road. I have a lot to give God thanks for because I could have been stranded on the side of the road somewhere. My question this the society that we are living in where people don't care about each other anymore. Thank you, pastor Dion for this message it causes me to continue the good fight and not to give up. please pray for me
Amen! Yes, Lord, I choose to trust You with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my might !!!
Amen!
Praise God!! Thanks for the reminder!!