“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” – 1 Samuel 30:6

David and his men were in about the lowest place imaginable. They’d lived in exile amongst their Philistine enemies for years. Suddenly, while they were elsewhere, raiders came and burned their homes to the ground, kidnapping all their wives and children. His men had every reason to question David’s leadership and take out their anger, sorrow, and frustration on him. David recognized his danger, even as he wept for his own kidnapped family. David had no more tricks up his sleeve and knew he was “out of gas” as a leader.

However, David didn’t give up. He also didn’t try to figure the situation out himself. He turned to the Lord for guidance. Rather than guess what his next steps should be, David stopped to ask God’s direction. God told him the next steps to take and when David did as God said, his men followed. The story ends well, with a great victory that restored their families, property, and confidence in David. This was David’s final test of faith, obedience, and leadership before the death of King Saul and the rise of David to the throne of Judah (and eventually all of Israel). From the lowest of lows, David’s reliance on God in deep distress led him up, up, up for many years until sin brought him back down again.

What’s the lesson for us? One day, you may find yourself at a low point, doubting and disappointed with yourself or surrounded by people who’ve lost faith in you after a failure. If you’re a follower of Jesus, remember that even when you’re in profound distress, God’s strength and direction are available to you. God still has a will and a plan for you with good works prepared for you to do. However, you must be willing to stop and be still, for as long as it takes, to seek and hear from the Lord. Seek His direction for your life rather than your own (or someone else’s). Don’t give up! Remember that, just as David’s low point was also a key turning point in his life, there may be a time where your lowest low is preparing you to rise and thrive in the Lord. #FollowJesus

“Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.” – John 19:1

There is enormous suffering packed into this short sentence! Roman flogging used a whip tipped with bits of sharpened metal or bone. Flogging could often be fatal in itself because of the pain and blood loss. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, submitted to that terrible whipping which shredded His skin and poured out His blood. The One Who has always held the universe together was stripped and flogged on the orders of a cowardly Roman bureaucrat who couldn’t care less.

It’s terrible to contemplate – the creation flogging its Creator! Inflicting pain for the sake of pain upon our loving Good Shepherd. Jesus permitted this to happen. He didn’t stop it, shorten it, or avoid it though He could have with a single thought. Jesus submitted to this as He submitted to every element of His betrayal, humiliation, suffering, and death. Jesus suffered to take our sins upon Himself. He suffered to take the suffering we deserve upon Himself.

As you contemplate the torn and bleeding back of Jesus, remember that He endured that for you. His love for God and for you led Him there to be whipped. Your sins made it happen. In a very real sense, each of us “took Jesus and flogged him” and He permitted and endured it because He loves us. #FollowJesus

“Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.”
– Psalm 68:19

There is a vast spiritual reality at work throughout all of creation and you can’t see it at all. If you could see reality as it actually is, even for a moment, you’d be blown away! Angels, yes. Demons, yes. God Almighty at work in and through everything, YES!!!

This verse offers a glimpse of that spiritual reality. That God Himself “daily bears us up”. This means that for God’s people, He is constantly strengthening us, sustaining us, supporting us, and carrying us. He isn’t distant, He’s very, very present! You may feel overwhelmed, alone, and abandoned but the unseen reality is far, far different. God is with you, holding you up, strengthening you in your weakness, guiding you, and guarding you.

He won’t let you fall from Him. He won’t abandon you. He won’t leave you to find your own way home. He will bear you up daily. His presence may be invisible but that doesn’t mean anything. Trust His Word – He IS with you! #FollowJesus

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” – John 15:7

Have you ever considered this? Wondered about it? Tested it? Doubted it? There are people who twist promises like this into a false prosperity gospel, claiming that with enough faith you can pray yourself to perfect health and vast wealth. That isn’t what Jesus is saying at all!

Jesus promises that if you truly abide in Him, pursuing a deep and growing relationship with your Savior AND if you’re faithful about meditating on and obeying everything Jesus spoke in Scripture, then you’ll have a radically different experience of prayer. Your prayers will be consistently heard and answered favorably. But here’s the thing… if you’re richly abiding in Christ and His teachings and commands are richly abiding in you, you aren’t going to be asking to personal health and wealth!

The closer you grow to Jesus, the more your prayers become like His. The more your desires and ambitions become like His. The more your heart and understanding becomes like His. When that happens, you aren’t praying for a pony and a million dollars like a spiritual child would. You’re praying that God’s name would be hallowed, worshiped, praised, and held sacred by all people. You’re praying for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven. You’re certainly praying for your daily needs but you know the difference between needs and wants and your daily wants have been transformed into the wants of your King. You’ll be praying for daily bread, forgiveness of sins, and protection from temptation.

A deep relationship with Jesus changes everything, especially your desires, priorities, dreams, and ambitions. This is a really good thing as your heart gradually aligns with the heart of Jesus and more than anything, you just want to #FollowJesus more and more. Abide. Pray. Trust.