Shepherdess Rise Up Week Four Summary

Happy Sunday! Here is this week's reading for the devotions. Also, last week's summary. There are a lot of soul searching questions to ask around our motives, trusting in God's faithfulness and unfailing love, as well as how we respond when others are not responding the way WE think they should. Who knew these questions could come from David's life thousands of years later?

​Psalm 57

• David looks to the Lord for protection
• David KNOWS God will fulfill His purpose for him (he knows he does not have to add to it)
• David TRUSTS God will extend His UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS!
• David was weary from being chased – But! David was confident in God

♥ Questions to Ask

• In distressing times, do I look to the Lord for protection?
• Do I encourage my husband and children to look to the Lord, first?
• Do I know, and help others to see, God IS faithful and He will always send His unfailing love?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love! Thank You for being my place of protection when I find myself in times of distress. Lord, help me to point my spouse, children, family and friends towards You in their times of distress. Not only in my Words, but more in the way I love and treat them during their times of difficulty. Thank You!

Psalm 142

• David again cries out from distress; he is overwhelmed
• Again, he trusts in God’s sovereignty by declaring only God knows which way he should go
• He says God is ALL HE WANTS IN LIFE
• His mindset is convincing him the enemies are too strong for him
• Uncharacteristic of what I believe David to be, he says he must be brought out of prison in order to thank God (perhaps speaking of his mindset?)
• He expresses the godly will crows around him, because God is good to him and blesses him through others

♥ Questions to Ask

• Do I believe ONLY God knows what I should do when I find myself in a dark place?
• Is it foreign to me to think like David and believe Jesus is ALL I WANT IN LIFE?
• Are their godly people in my life who will surround me and allow God to love me through their lives?

Prayer: Lord, I HAVE found myself in some pretty dark, cold and lonely places. Times I didn’t look to You, other times I did. You DID know the way out when I trusted You. This is part of why I continue to trust in You. Lord, thank You! You have also placed people in my life who share Your love for me. Thank You. Your love TRULY IS UNFAILING!

1 Samuel 25

• David believed his good deeds involving Nabal would inspire Nabal to provide provisions to David and his men
• David was angered at Nabal’s selfishness and wanted to kill him and his men
• Nabal had a man looking out for him, and a wife looking out for all of them
• Abigail set out to share provisions with David and his men. She also encouraged David to NOT blemish his conscience and record with the Lord, by needlessly taking lives.
• David humbly heard her and heeded Abigail’s message, later married her, following Nabal’s death

♥ Questions to Ask

• When I feel I have done other RIGHT, do I find myself wanting to react in the flesh when their responses are not what I THINK they should be?
• When my sous does not respond kindly or selfishly, do I hope to “cover” him by correcting the situation?
• Am I quick to receive correction when godly counsel is brought into my life, regardless of who it is from?

Prayer: Lord, help me be humble. If I struggle with humility, and I’m blind to it, help me see it and help me to be more humble. Help me to refrain from reacting foolishly. Help me trust in Your will, and bring correction in Your timing and ways. Amen!

Psalm 54

• David cries out to God when the Ziphites tell Saul where David is hiding
• David declares God as his helper
• God answers David’s prayer

♥ Questions to Ask

• Am I beginning to see, embrace, and understand the importance of looking to God in my trials?
• Can I recall times I DID lean on God and He brought me through the trial?
• Do I continue to praise and sacrifice my wants for the glory of god and the sake of others?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for seeing me through trying times! Thank You for the reminder to ALWAYS look to You no matter what – be it in the trial or the “good” places. Thank You for answered prayers. Lord, help me to remind others of Your faithfulness in their times of trial. Help me to help others see You will rush to their defense because of Your unfailing LOVE for them!

1 Samuel 26

• Saul brought 3,000 of Israel’s best troops to hunt David down
• David was one of 600 men in the wilderness
• A second time David’s men encouraged David to take Saul’s life. A second time David said NO
• David ridicules Abner for not looking after King Saul as he should; this lack was worthy of death
• David wanted to know why Saul was wasting his time and compromising Israel’s protection to look for someone like David; David considered himself less than a flea
• Again, David leaves it up to the Lord to judge and reward for doing good and being loyal
• David trusts God values his life just as he has valued Saul’s

♥ Questions to Ask

• Would I be as “understanding” towards someone bringing a second offense towards me?
• Would I be just as compelled to trust God to bring justice to the situation?
• Are there areas in my life I need God to ring resolve and healing, so I do not leave my home and family vulnerable?
• Do I value my spouse as someone God has anointed to be in my life and one I should strive to cover and protect in prayer?
• Do I trust the Lord will reward for remaining loyal and doing good, when I may be tempted to bring justice to a situation to rectify the situation?

Prayer: Lord help me to always do good and remain loyal to those you have laced in my life to lead me. Be it my spouse, pastor, supervisor – whomever. Help me to remain loyal to my family and never open them to attacks from the enemy, for selfish pursuits! In Jesus’ name, Amen!