Iwant to take a moment to talk about keeping a good attitude in the midst of God’s preparation process. David’s process to becoming King of Israel is a wonderful example of how to do things well in this area. As a young man, David was anointed as King over Israel and yet for many years, he had to wait for God’s time to bring him into the fullness of his destiny. Through it all David kept a good attitude toward King Saul and those who were determined to destroy him. David understood that the only way to get God’s results, was to do things God’s way.
God chose David, because He was a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He had a heart to worship God, obey God and be faithful to Him. Saul had lost God’s blessing and favor due to his disobedience and David had gained God’s blessing and favor due to his obedience and love for God. Because he knew that he had lost everything, Saul sought to destroy David, the one who would succeed him to the throne. 2 Samuel 3:1 tells us “The war between the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.”
David determined never to take matters into his own hands when it came to this situation, and he trusted that God, in His chosen time, would bring David into his destiny. David had many opportunities to kill Saul, but he was determined not to touch the Lords anointed (1 Samuel 26:9). David honored the leadership over him even when that leadership was trying to destroy him and he was running for his life. What a wonderful attitude!
This is the power of honor! As we choose to honor those God has placed over us and leave the promotion to Him, He will cause us to grow stronger and stronger. It would have been easy for David to allow bitterness and resentment to enter his heart. It would have been easy for him to kill Saul; he had many opportunities. And in David’s decision to not touch this situation, God’s favor was released. It released the strength and blessing of God!
Romans 12:19 says “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” People think it is a sign of weakness to not take revenge and yet there are so many incredible benefits! As you make the decision to do things God’s way, you will grow stronger and stronger.
Jesus is the best example of this attitude of leaving His life in God’s hands. Luke 2:52 says, “He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man” Something powerful happens when we refuse to render evil for evil. Mark 4:28 says “On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
David’s decision to not touch his enemy, and in this case God’s appointed authority, and leave things in God’s hand meant that he grew stronger and stronger. When you heap coals upon a person’s head it weakens them. Over time, the person who hates and despises those who love them in return, only grows weaker. They remove themselves from the blessing and favor of God. The way of blessing is the way of forgiveness and love!
Maybe you have found yourself in a situation like David that has continued even for years. I want to encourage you to continue to love, bless and pray for that person; because as you do, you will grow stronger and stronger. As you heap coals, those who are against you will grow weaker and weaker and eventually God will release you into the fullness of His destiny for your life.
I want to encourage you today, that with God everything is a process. He wants to use you to do great things for the Kingdom, and yet He has an agenda to transform you into the image and likeness of Jesus.
1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
Everything we go through, for the sake of the Gospel, is always for the wonderful purpose of releasing more of God’s glory through us; so we can be made more like Jesus. Then when God releases the fullness of the breakthrough and destiny that He has planned for our lives, it will be because God has done it and not something we have done in our own strength. It will be the work of God.
Today I want to encourage you; don’t take short-cuts in God’s preparation process and don’t give up. Keep responding to all you’re going through like Jesus did, because as you do, you will grow stronger and stronger. You will increase in blessing and favor and you will see all that God has promised come to a place of fulfillment in your life.
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