Tag: God

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When Unforgiveness Festers

Perth Girl

Ahithophel is a name with a Hebrew origin meaning ‘Brother of Folly”. Contrary to what his name means Ahithophel was a wise, trusted and respected counsellor to King David. In 2 Samuel 16:23 we read “Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like the one who inquires of God. That was how David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.” Absalom, King David’s third son who returns to Jerusalem after a period of exile for killing his brother Amnon, begins to conspire to overthrow his father and take the throne. In 2 Samuel 15:12 we read that Absalom … Continue reading When Unforgiveness Festers

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Giving Room for Sin

Perth Girl

David is one of my favourite characters from the bible. Continuing my study through the book of Samuel and going through the life of David from shepherd to King has been rich with lessons. But as I land on 2 Samuel 11, the story of David and Bathsheba, I almost do not want to linger on this part of his story. I am aware of the sin he commits and I did not feel like dwelling on the not so triumphant aspect of his story. But if we stick to only the feel-good portions of scripture, we miss out on … Continue reading Giving Room for Sin

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Let God Lead

Perth Girl

1 Samuel 23:4 “Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him.” David was known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). As I continue to read through the book of Samuel, it is impossible not to notice a characteristic trait of David’s relationship with God. Multiple times we read David inquiring of the Lord before making any decision. He frequently sought the Lord’s counsel and direction. The Lord’s guidance was what directed his steps. It is about nine times we see him inquiring of the Lord (1 Samuel 23: 2, 4, … Continue reading Let God Lead

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It’s not all about Me

Perth Girl

I have been reading the book of 1 Samuel. King Saul was jealous of David and wanted to kill him. David flourished in all that he did, the Lord’s favour was upon him. The latter half of this book details David fleeing from King Saul, David and his men hiding out moving from place to place so Saul and his men cannot get to them. During David’s time in the wilderness he did not make it all about him but surrendered to God’s plans, purposes and timing. God’s divine protection in your wilderness moments We read of David and his … Continue reading It’s not all about Me

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Rest your Gaze on God

Perth Girl

More often than not, we are inundated with all the wrong and misery happening in the world. How much ever we filter what we watch, we cannot deny the ever-present awareness of the state of crumbling humanity when it functions outside of God. It is at these times more than ever I need to be reminded that God is good and that He is Sovereign. And in the midst of all this chaos, we do not want our graze transfixed on all that seems to be hurtful and wrong because it shifts our focus from the goodness of God. And … Continue reading Rest your Gaze on God

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‘Be Still’ – Profound and Purposeful Action

Perth Girl

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” What a powerful and comforting verse. I have been coming back to this verse and soaking this in for the last few days. This week I was not feeling very fighting fit in a spiritual and emotional sense and I just needed to be reminded that God is with me and for me every single day. I have read and re-read this verse and allowed it to minister to me. There is nothing more powerful and comforting than the word of God to minister to your … Continue reading ‘Be Still’ – Profound and Purposeful Action

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Is Partial Obedience to God Obedience to Him at all?

Perth Girl

God anoints Saul as king through Samuel(1 Samuel 9). Saul experiences God quite profoundly during his years as King and has a godly prophet in Samuel who guides, instructs according to God’s word and prays for him. And yet in 1 Samuel 15 we read that Saul did not obey God as he should and God rejects him as king. Reading Saul’s story made me dwell on the question – Is Partial Obedience to God obedience to Him at all?   1 Samuel 15 begins with Samuel sharing God’s message to Saul. The Lord was going to punish the Amalekites … Continue reading Is Partial Obedience to God Obedience to Him at all?

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A Direct call from God – Gideon

Perth Girl

We are introduced to Gideon in Judges 6. This was a time when the Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, Amalekites and others. They had their crops and livestock continuously looted and the Israelites often hid out in the mountains to survive. The people eventually did cry out to the Lord. He sends them a prophet to remind them that they did evil in the eyes of God, disobeyed Him, worshipped other gods and basically had turned their backs on Him. In verse 11, we read about Gideon hiding in a winepress and threshing wheat. An angel of the Lord … Continue reading A Direct call from God – Gideon

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Only God be our King

Perth Girl

In 1 Samuel 8 we read about the Israelites demanding Samuel for a king. Samuel served the Lord for quite a few years and was getting old. He appoints his sons as judges for Israel. Samuel was a godly man, but judges were appointed not by men but by God and the role of being a judge for the nation of Israel did not pass on between generation to generation of the family. In verse 3 of the chapter we read that Samuel’s sons did not follow the ways of God, and yet Samuel appointed them as Judges. Samuel excused … Continue reading Only God be our King

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Honouring God with your Obedience

Perth Girl

Reading Deuteronomy 28 can evoke a duality of feelings. The chapter has 68 verses, the first 14 verses talk about the blessings that God would shower on Israel for obedience towards Him and the rest of the chapter, verses 15-68 lay out curses for disobedience and reading that can sometimes truly feel overwhelming. In this chapter Moses exhorted the nation of Israel with a choice. If they fully obey the Lord, they would abound in blessings in their home, in their field, in all their undertakings and He will exhort them above every nation and make His name known through … Continue reading Honouring God with your Obedience