1 Samuel 30:8, “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’”
Before we do anything, we should consult the Lord. I have heard it said that it is “better to ask forgiveness than permission.” To that, I say, why ask for forgiveness if you do not need to? When it come to the Lord God of the universe, it is always better to ask permission and consult the plan of the Lord.
David, in this chapter, returned with his men to the town of Ziklag. This is where some of David’s people, the Israelites, were. Included in the people in this town were David’s 2 wives, Abigail and Ahinoam. The Amalekites, sworn enemy to the people of Israel, had invaded and taken all the people of the town. David returned and found a city burned and all the people gone. There was an immediate emotion of grief and anger but instead of acting on that grief and anger, David did the wise thing. David turned to His Lord.
David prayed. He prayed for guidance on what to do. He asked for permission to go after the enemy and get his wives and the other people back. He did not delay in this. This prayer was made to make sure that God would bless the journey and the battle that would ensue. God answered David and told him to go and get the enemy. Go and recover all that was lost.
When the “fires” and “kidnappings” of life come to us, how will we react? Will we just get angry and grieve? Will we just give up? Will we act before thinking? The correct answer is do as David did. We need to go to God in prayer. God will be there to help. God will be there to comfort. Will God answer right away? Maybe, maybe not. The story of David does not tell how long it took God to respond. What did happen is that God responded and David waited for that response.
We have to have patience. God has a plan and we have to be patient to adhere to it. If we just go off and do our own thing, it may not be what God wants. It will end badly for us. It is better for us wait and listen for God. God will respond. He will respond in His timing. Sometimes you may not think God is listening. Be patient. He is. From personal experience, I know that God sometimes answers prayer months or even years later. You may forget what you prayed for in that time. God does answer prayer.
Before you do anything, pray. Start your day with prayer. End your day with prayer. In the middle, pray. Pray in the good times. Pray in the bad times. Notice that David’s prayer was not some eloquent poem that was created through much thought of his own. His prayer was a simple request. Our prayers can and should be the same thing. Talking to God as a friend. He is our Heavenly Father after all. He is our friend. He created us and wants us to talk to Him. We are His. Consult Him in all things. Make sure God is behind you in all that You do. Go forward with God.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that we can pray to You in simple terms. You are not interested in some flowy speech that makes us feel better. You want our heart-felt cries and pleas for help. You want our thanks to You. We can come to You in all times. Help us to never feel like we can’t talk to You. Help us to be patient and wait on Your response. Your way is greater than our way. Your plans are greater than our plans. You are greater than I. I bow down to You and ask You humbly to help the unbelief of those that do not trust You. Do not follow You. Be there for them as You always are and help me and others like me to lead them to You.
In Your name we pray,
Amen
Workhorse (Adam) 