Corona Devo 961

If we know anything about the account of David (King David) in the Bible, it's that he had a lot of trials in his life...but he didn't let them define him.  

He was selected by God to be a king over the Israelites, but when the prophet (Samuel) came to anoint him for this honor, even David's father didn't consider David an option out of the line-up of his sons.  David's dad, Jesse didn't even fetch him for the prophet until told to do so.

...Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” (9) Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” (10) In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 

(11) Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”

“Send for him at once,” Samuel said...

(12) So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

(13) So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.  ~I Samuel 16:8-13

David was the one, but no one else saw it, even his family.  Good news--he didn't let it define him, he let God define him. 

Have we lacked support from those that know us and even love us?  Don't let it define you.  Let God define our today, our tomorrow, and our potential in Him.

~~~
Before David became king, Saul (the current king) would sometimes love David, but most times hate him.  The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand (11) and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.  

(12) Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. ~I Samuel 18:10-12

Twice Saul hurled a spear at David in point-blank range...and beyond that, throughout David's (pre-king) life, Saul pursued him seeking to kill David and forced him to live in the wilderness and caves for a period of time.  That kind of thing can mess with your mind!  Paranoia can set in!  

But good news--David didn't let it define him, he let God define him. 

Do we have nay-sayers, antagonists, bully's or people that are thorns-in-our-sides?  God is bigger!  We can't let them or their small view define us.  We must choose today to let God define us, protect us, and lead us.

You got problems?  

David also had sons that plotted to overthrow him so that they could be king  (II Samuel 15), and he had a wife that disrespected and chastised David for worshiping the Lord boldly (II Samuel 6:20-22).  

David had some baggage.  He had trials.  But they did not define him.  His hurdles in life did not sum up his life.  His belief and faith in God did.

~~~

We've got baggage.  We have gone through some trials and we will go through some more.  

We too have been hurt by family and friends not seeing our potential.

We too have been (emotionally/verbally/spiritually/(even) physically) attacked at point-blank range.

We too have been targeted, pursued-unfairly, and threatened with the mental-battles of paranoia, pity, and worthlessness.

All that was true of David's life (and trials) are true of our lives too.  But God is bigger, and He defines us, not our circumstances.  

When it was time to "sum up" David's life, none of the trials were part of his Biblical epitaph, but all of the outcomes of being defined-by-God-instead were:

So David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. (27) He reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. (28) He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place. 

(29) All the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in The Record of... (30) These accounts include the mighty deeds of his reign and everything that happened to him and to Israel and to all the surrounding kingdoms.  ~I Chronicles 29:26-30

David's life was full of daily challenges, and that's life.  But how we live and shine and seek God during those challenges can be what defines us, instead of those challenges defining us.

Let's shoot for the goal of dying at a ripe old age.  Let's enjoy a long life, wealth, and honor.  Let's leave a legacy (Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.)  Let's accumulate mighty deeds in God's name.

Let's let God define us today, and nothing (or no one) else.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com