Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Trusting God's Way” – Thursday, 2 October 2014 - Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:31-51

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Trusting God's Way” – Thursday, 2 October 2014 - Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:29-31 Suddenly, God, your light floods my path,
    God drives out the darkness.
I smash the bands of marauders,
    I vault the high fences.
What a God! His road
    stretches straight and smooth.
Every God-direction is road-tested.
    Everyone who runs toward him
Makes it.
32-46 Is there any god like God?
    Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me well,
    then aimed me in the right direction?
Now I run like a deer;
    I’m king of the mountain.
He shows me how to fight;
    I can bend a bronze bow!
You protect me with salvation-armor;
    you touch me and I feel ten feet tall.
You cleared the ground under me
    so my footing was firm.
When I chased my enemies I caught them;
    I didn’t let go till they were dead men.
I nailed them; they were down for good;
    then I walked all over them.
You armed me well for this fight;
    you smashed the upstarts.
You made my enemies turn tail,
    and I wiped out the haters.
They cried “uncle”
    but Uncle didn’t come;
They yelled for God
    and got no for an answer.
I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.
    I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.
You rescued me from a squabbling people;
    you made me a leader of nations.
People I’d never heard of served me;
    the moment they got wind of me they submitted.
They gave up; they came trembling from their hideouts.
47-51 Live, God! Blessing to my Rock,
    my towering Salvation-God!
This God set things right for me
    and shut up the people who talked back.
He rescued me from enemy anger.
    You pulled me from the grip of upstarts,
You saved me from the bullies.
    That’s why I’m thanking you, God,
    all over the world.
That’s why I’m singing songs
    that rhyme your name.
God’s king takes the trophy;
    God’s chosen is beloved.
I mean David and all his children—
    always.
"Trusting God's Way" by David W. Kendall
David's resume included several titles: king, military commander,, and "father" of the Messiah, not mention poet and lover of God. In today's passage, David praises God for giving him victory over his enemies.
We might easily conclude that David’s life was one long, awesome display of God’s mighty acts, and that as soon as trouble came, the Lord defeated it. However, that is not how the story goes. In fact, David spent years running from King Saul. On several occasions, David could have ended his trouble by acting on his own and taking vengeance on Saul.
But David refused to do what others would have done. Instead, he trusted that God’s way was perfect and that God would bring victory in His own way and time. Until then, he would wait and trust the Lord.
In David’s song, we learn that God lifts up the humble who submit to His ways. Then God trains them to wage their battle His way, and honors them as they seek cover in God’s presence and trust God’s provisions.
Ultimately, God’s way is seen in Jesus, who assures victory, but only as we trust and follow Him.

Hymn for Today:

"Yield Not To Temptation" by Horatio R. Palmer
1. Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Refrain:
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
2. Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God’s name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Refrain:
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
3. To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown;
Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;
He who is our Savior our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Refrain:
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
Thought for Today:

“[Jesus] called His followers to replace any grudge-holding, vengeful attitudes with a generous, compassionate spirit"(Brad E. Kelle)
Prayer Needs:
For the develoment of Christian leaders in Guyana.
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