In my personal devotion time yesterday I was listening to 1 Samuel 30. While David and his men were raiding one area, a group of David's enemies came and raided David's base (the town of Ziklag), destroyed it and captured all of the wives, children and possessions of David and his men.
David's men were so upset that they wanted to kill David. The English Standard Version says, "And David was distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." (1 Samuel 30:6)
There have certainly been times when I felt like everyone was against me. Often I have wanted (and tried) to change that by trying make people happy, doing what they want; saying what they want to hear. Other times I have pulled away from people, trying to protect myself from the opinions of others. Right now, as I focus on future direction for our congregation, it can be very discouraging listening to complaints and seeing people make bad decisions. At times it makes me want to scrap plans or maybe just escape.
Did you see what David did? Rather than try to please the people or escape from everything, "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." The only approval David needed was God's. The encouragement David needed came from the Lord. God provided the direction David needed in His Word. When everyone else was against David, David found strength in the presence of the God who had never left him.
This 60 day challenge is an opportunity to "strengthen [yourself] in the Lord." You don't need the approval of others; you have the love and mercy of Almighty God. He is always faithful and gives us what we need to do what He has given us to do. So strengthen yourself in the Lord. Draw near to Him in worship with others. Dig deeper into His Word in study with others. Use your time and gifts to serve Him with others.
I found myself in such situation for years, and it was painful. However, once I found the secret of being in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ all the time, a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders. Since then every issue that has come my way and I have looked at it with a "How will Jesus respond" attitude and will my decision be in alignment with Him? Indeed, there is real peace, joy, contentment and a tremendous sense of victory when we care about God's approval because He is God over humans approval because they are humans. I look forward to the 60 days of "When Everyone is against you." The church needs to understand this now, and it is the right time. Praying that every person who attends will be blessed by the message and will leave with a different perspective. David is one of my favorite Bible heroes and I never get enough of him.
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