The Book of 1st Samuel
Sharing Humility
What we love about scripture is that it is not just some historical documents that are supposed to tell us what we are and are not supposed to believe. Instead, it is living and active. It works in us and through us to transform us through the power of Holy Spirit.
Posturing Ourselves Against Cynism
David gives us an example of what it looks like to hope that despite evil, God is working out his purposes to oppose the proud and exalt the humble. Daily prayer postures can help us practice our faith and remind us of who we are and who God is.
Enslaved by Envy
Lack of humility can lead to being enslaved by Envy, but Jesus can set us free.
True Dependency
True Dependency is agreeing with God about who he is.
The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”1 Samuel 17:37
Let Them See You Bleed
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”
1 Samuel 15:17-23
More than a Donkey Chaser
“Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.”
1 Samuel 10
The God Box
We can never shrink God down to a box, or a formula, that we can use. He is too big. He is untamable.
A Purposed Prayer
When Jesus prays in scripture, we are giving examples of kingdom advancing prayers. Not his own advancing prayers, but for the kingdom. He teaches us to pray these prayers about God’s kingdom coming.
The difference in me-centered prayers and kingdom-centered prayers are not what is being prayed for, but why it is being prayed for.
