Tuesday, October 9
2 Samuel 12:16-20
David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”
David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
Devotional:
David was a man of prayer. He fasted. He pleaded with God. He spent sleepless nights humbling Himself before God. He demonstrated his belief that prayer was vital as he sought God concerning the welfare of his child. He also demonstrated that his prayers were clearly according to the sovereign will of God. In this case (during the aftermath of sinful choices), God did not answer David’s prayer the way he wanted. Yet David still chose to honor God by going into the house of the Lord and worshiping. What a powerful example of praying – even when the chips are down.
When you come up against trials and difficulties, does it cause you to run to God in prayer or run away from God? When you pray, do you pray according to God’s will or only according to what you want? Do you willingly accept God’s answers to your prayers – Yes, No, or even wait – and still worship Him no matter what?
Spend a few minutes today reflecting on your prayer life and answering the questions in the previous paragraph. And then have an honest conversation with God about your answers and ask Him to help you grow to be a prayer warrior more like David.
Pastor Ken