PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN ( 2 Samuel 19:5-7 ): I am convicted by Joab’s words to David here. I have often been blinded by the mourning of one thing not realizing that I am hurting others close to me by my mourning. I have often been blinded by something I really want not coming to fruition not seeing the blessings that have come in-place of that. Please forgive me for this, Father. Forgive me for not always living in Your blessings. Forgive me for not always showing love and kindness to others when I am feeling some kind of way about something else. Help me to be better in this, Father. Help me to be better at focusing on You throughout all the turmoil and disappointment in my life instead of allowing those negative things to take residence in my heart.
PROMISE ( 2 Samuel 19:5 ): You promise to David of continued favor is the gift that keeps on giving. Here, we see David’s kingship restored and he is protected from death yet again. You led David down a path of protection and victory. Although he did lose one of his sons in this process, You still kept him moving forward and in Your good graces towards staying the king of Israel. Thank You for continued fulfillment of promises, Father.
ATTITUDE ( 2 Samuel 19:38 ): Although I do embrace this quite often in my life, I do feel like I fall short quite often as well. David truly embraced an attitude of gratitude towards others in his walk in this lifetime. Here I see his heart of gratitude towards Barzillai, who was the one who provided for him and his army throughout all of this turmoil. He recognized this and was grateful for the blessings bestowed on him and his men throughout the turmoil; so much so that David invited him to come to Israel with him, although Barzillai declined due to his age and wanting to die peacefully at his home when the time comes. Instead, David took in his wishes and bestowed all gratefulness and what comes of that towards the man, Chimham, whom Barzillai identified for David to bless in his place. Help me to become better at embracing gratefulness in my heart, Father. Gratefulness towards You especially, but also being better at truly expressing gratefulness towards others in my life, Father.
COMMAND ( 2 Samuel 19:7 ): Although this is coming from Joab to David, I do see it as a command from You to my heart today, Father. Especially the first few words of this scripture—“Now get up! Go out and encourage…” Those words ring true to me as they did to David back then. I need to be far better at getting up first and foremost. Secondly, I need to be better at encouraging others. Please help me to truly understand and embrace this command in my heart, Father. Help me to truly know when I should express encouragement towards others as oftentimes I fail to even recognize when I should be an encouragement to others in the moment. I often look back on things that happened and say to myself something like “why didn’t I do this” or “I should have said/done this.” Help me to be better on the spot instead of always recognizing the things I should have done after the fact, Father.
EXAMPLE ( 2 Samuel 19:5-7 ): Although Joab was the one that went against David’s wishes by killing his son, Absalom, in battle, he still provides a great example for me to live by here. I should not allow someone’s position or my own personal fear to drive the words I speak to others. I should only allow You to drive those words. Joab says some great things to David here, albeit extremely harsh. David, being king over Joab, could have just killed Joab on the spot for his perceived disrespectful choice of words to David. Instead, he took it as an opportunity to be built up and encouraged to express gratitude and celebration towards his men for their victory in battle. An encourager doesn’t always come with the speaking of peaceful and kind words. Sometimes we have to reveal the blunt truth in order to encourage others just as You do so with conviction towards my heart quite often. Help me to discern when I should be one type of encourager versus another, Father. Help me to be more like how You want me to be and not how this world would dictate I act or speak, Father.
*DAILY NOTE: A powerful message today in this scripture. A message of mourning, triumph, victory, humility, gratitude, and encouragement. Thank You for today’s message, Father, as well as the convictions that come along with it. I know that every tidbit of information You give me is to feed my soul and encourages me to become the man You expect me to be. This journey is a difficult one for me as I am very stubborn to change myself, but I know that through You all things are possible; even getting through my thick skull. Thank You for being persistent and patient with me, Father. You always seem to know exactly what I need and when I need it, so thank You for that.
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
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