RTW April 19

When We Lose…Seek; When I Seek… I Win

When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more.
1 Samuel 30:4

But David found strength in the LORD.
1 Samuel 30:6b

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

David never lost respect for the man God had appointed king. Would I respect someone who was trying to harm me? And David wrote a funeral song!

Something New

Wept until they had no more power to weep.

He hadn’t fallen so far that he had forgotten where to go, and what to do to be restored.

He went to the priest. He sought the LORD.

When we seek the LORD:

  • He won’t reject us.
  • He will strengthen us.
  • He will direct us.
  • He will restore what’s been lost. (Maybe not the exact way… Job)

Something To Do

But Wendy found strength in the LORD, her God.

 

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7 Comments

  1. I noted Davids heart today. He had made mistakes but his heart still had the character of God. He wasn’t willing to withhold the plunder from those who didn’t come to battle. He had god’s heart of generosity and understanding. He wrote a beaufyidl funeral song for Saul and jonathan. He spoke of how beloved and gracious Saul was…the man who was trying to kill him. Again, the heart of God here…not slandering or ignoring his death but mourning and being so kind in his words. I want to cultivate the heart of God in my heart so that my responses will mirror His heart.

    1. Such good insights into David’s heart! Today’s reading really brings those out. It is so encouraging to read the life of David. He was far from perfect but his heart for God made all the difference in his life and legacy.

  2. Wow today’s lesson was just so full of goodness on this Good Friday.

    I had been in this same place as David recently. A place of discouragement, overwhelm and depression. So deep that I couldn’t see straight, I couldn’t get out of it on my own, I had no idea what to do to get back to the way I “was”.

    In 2013 I became a Zumba instructor and had been on a journey back then to better health after I had my 2 children. I was probably the strongest and had been in the best shape physically at that time since probably high school, maybe even better.
    Music, dancing, working out are my passions so becoming a Zumba instructor was a natural thing for me. Then about 3 years later, I injured my foot and ended up needing surgery. I tore a ligament in my toe that would require a permanent screw and a lot of recovery. This was the beginning of my downward slope. I actually remember the day the ortho Dr. told me I would need surgery. I went home and made a meal and thought well I might as well eat whatever I want now because I can’t work out anymore for who knows how long. Wow, what a lie that I accepted in my own thinking. I so blindly partnered with the enemy who wanted to bring me down. I continued to eat (gorge) and wasn’t able to workout and ended up gaining 60 pounds in a year and 1/2. Oh my gosh, I was the heaviest I had ever been even more than I had weighed being pregnant. Along with that weight came the weight and burden of depression, anxiety, embarrassment, low self-esteem, loss of about every emotion that was close to joy. My Joy had been stolen and I pretty much had given it away. I sought out help from anyone and everyone I could, I tried seeing counselors, friends, people at church, family advice, articles, online information etc. All to find nothing was changing and I was depressed and down as ever. I had been on fire for the Lord only a short time before that, how was this all possible? How had I gotten so far from him? I had no energy, I was in pain, I couldn’t work out, I gorged myself on foods that were destroying my health and mind. I had no energy to even try to bring myself to the Lord. Excuse after excuse, there I was in a deep deep pit. I spent 2 years in that place. I figured that was how I would live now, because I had no idea what to do. I was overwhelmed by the overwhelm.

    It wasn’t until January 1st, 2019 came again and I had determined to begin RTW again and stick with it this time. I decided to seek God with all my heart and to prioritize him which I knew in my heart was the answer to all this mess and chaos I was in. (I wasn’t too far gone, even though I believed I was.)

    Then March 1st came and I decided I had enough of this way I had been living. I was so ready for this change and I knew depending on God and his strength was the only way I would do it. I knew in my heart that I was not honoring God with my health decisions. I decided to dedicate the following 30 days like in the Nazarite Vow to the Lord and decided my health was worth fighting for. God was worth fighting for and He has been giving me that strength that Wendy is talking about. I found my strength in the Lord my God! It’s supernatural!

    Today is Day 50 for me after starting the Whole 30 on March 1st. I still can’t believe it. So I relate to where David was. I lived there. I was so desperate and couldn’t get myself out of it. But God did.
    He pulled me up out of the pit and secured my feet on his solid foundation. He helped me to stand and to see again.
    I had lost sight of who I was and what I was called to do. My vigor was gone. My fire had been snuffed out.
    My word this year is JOY-the Joy of the Lord is my strength! Nehemiah 8:10

    God is restoring me to a place of complete JOY! Because of Him and because of who He is and who I am in Him!

    Yes Wendy, I have not gotten so far from God that I forgot how to be restored! What a gift, what a JOY, what a truth for us all to cling to on this Good Friday and everyday!

    All his promises are Yes and Amen!

    Thank you for taking the time to read my story. To tell of my story is to tell of Him.

    https://youtu.be/jIHmYBKkGa8

    1. I have enjoyed Faithful Workouts which includes all level of exercise nutritious recipes and devotionals to bring practical application of God’s Word in your life.

      1. I enjoy Faithful Workouts too! When I couldn’t get to the gym I’d do one of her workouts that I’d dvr. Great healthy recipes at her Freshtable site too.. Michelle has a heart for God and for women and it shows!

  3. —“But David found strength in the LORD his God”, jumped out at me to from today’s reading as well as “Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us.”
    —Go to the Lord every day for strength and throughout the day as things come up. Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given me. Share willing what God has blessed me with.

  4. thank you jlg5309 for your comments. God is speaking to me through your words. I could have written some of them myself. This is the year I finally really committed to Read through the Word and my diet. I’ve tried so many times and failed. I thank God that Wendy continues the study. I love her teachings and reading the responses. I can do nothing without God! He is so good to me!

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