Your Real Enemy

In the midst of a desperate situation, isolated and broken hearted David manages to encourage, “…himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).  This was not self encouragement i.e. positive thinking, mental resilience, or drawing on past experience – all of which of course have their place. David, despite the horrific situation that he found himself in, decided to encourage himself in God. It is only possible to do this amidst overwhelming circumstances when a man decides that God is not his enemy but His greatest ally. That is, he chooses to love God, trust in God and seek after God not blame, accuse and forsake God.   

David decided not to let his loss steal the love of God in his heart.  David decided not to let the hurt caused by his friends turning against him dictate his actions.  David decided to put his own weakness to one side (often a very difficult thing to do) and put his future in the hands of an almighty God.  Several life changing truths were in operation: know what and who to ignore including your own emotions; know that God is NOT your enemy and make the decision to seek Him no matter how hard the blow or tough the loss; and simply do what you know to do until you know what to do next.   

Do exactly what God tells you even if it is a step-by-step process.  In 1st Samuel 30:8-9 whilst David gets a clear instruction to pursue he does not get a detailed description of where he should go never mind how he and his men are to have victory.  He went on the strength of God’s first command trusting that the rest would follow.    

You might complain that God hasn’t told you to do anything but in fact you couldn’t be further from the truth.  You have been told to pray, read the Bible, go to church, worship, love God and, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him [with the promise that] He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Doing what you know to do puts you on a collision course with God’s perfect purposes and plans.

Jesus is calling on all His children to PURSUE, find their real enemies, defeat them and take back all that has been stolen unharmed and in perfect condition (1 Samuel 30:18-19).  Decide today not to let your loss, hurt, isolation or weaknesses get between you and God and you will find that there is nothing that can get between you and your miracle (Matthew 7:7-12).  Your real enemy is to forget that the Lord Jesus Christ is your Friend, Comforter, Guide and Saviour (Psalm 103:2-5; Hebrews 13: 5-6).

 Must reads:  Psalm 55:12-17; Psalm 56:5-9; Psalm 57:4-7.