The Reading Plan Daily Devotions

There is nothing quite so devious as moral impurity. But there is also nothing quite so predictable. Our great Enemy knows that he doesn’t have to be creative with immorality. The bait is so strong that it just needs to be placed within our reach. If we do not immediately apply God’s remedy, we will be ensnared. Sweet for a moment, the end results are always excruciating. DAVID’S GREAT FAILURE There was no one like David who was “a man after God’s own heart.” Perhaps the story of David’s failure is included in the Scripture to remind us that no one is immune to moral temptation and its possibilities. Even the godliest can fail if unguarded. In all that is recorded of David’s 40-year reign as a spiritual King in Israel, just four short verses chronicle his greatest fall. 2 Samuel 11 1 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David s...

God is never changing. He is who He is. The theological word for this is “immutability.” We can trust Him to be the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” His constancy gives us our only real stability in life. Every man or woman we know has varying moments of inconsistency. They let us down at times by not being true to what we thought they were. But not God. MY GOD David discovered this early in his life. As he was being chased by Saul in the wilderness, often despairing of his life, the one constant in his life—the One He could always trust—was God.   Psalm 18 1 I love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. In eight profound descriptors, David professes His faith in God. These were no mere phrases. Not a nice worship song sung to a catchy phrase by a casually i...

Many men cannot handle spiritual success. When God blesses them, if they are not careful, they will begin to attribute to themselves what God and others have accomplished in their lives.  It is a great temptation to read your own press clippings. But not David. In the moment of spiritual success when God had made a great promise to David that his son would rise behind him and be used of God to build a temple, here is his first response: "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that YOU have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18) Humility is knowing who God is and knowing who you are, and understanding the difference. No one would have criticized David for taking a little credit or even for just being silent. But David was proactive in His praise and constant in his humility. Why? Because this humility was coming from deep within. David didn't force these words from his mouth; they erupted instantly and sincerely. David was amazed at God's goodness and humbled by Hi...

If you are a true follower of Christ, you have an advocate with power you may not fully comprehend. He is The-One-Who-Goes-Before you and is absolute in His wisdom, power, and ability. DAVID’S TESTIMONY David was the new King of Israel, chosen by God Himself. This King, as opposed to his predecessor, Saul, had a heart after God. So, at almost every turn, David asked God what he should do and simply followed God’s lead. This allowed God Himself to lead His people, which is all God ever wants. When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer. (2 Samuel 5:23-25). Notice the beautiful pro...

We know little about this for there is a national spirit of cynicism and dishonor among us toward our leaders. We are not better for it. We would be wise to learn from a young man named David. DAVID’S OPPRESSION David had been anointed by God as king to take Saul’s place, for Saul had disobeyed the Lord. But then an amazing thing happened: Saul became jealous of God’s favor on David and began to try to kill young David. He hurled a spear against him. He chased him through the Judean wilderness like an animal of prey. He did everything that should have made David hate him. A lesser man would have done so. DAVID’S HONOR But in all of these horrendous days, as David was running and hiding, he did not dishonor Saul. In fact, when he had the chance to easily take Saul’s life, he refused to do it. He would not lift his hand against God’s anointed, but he simply left his case in the hands of God, believing that God would make it right in the proper time. When an Amalekite soldier came, tellin...