May 23

1 Samuel 9

God instructs Samuel to anoint Saul as the first king over Israel.

INSIGHT

The sovereignty of God is a difficult concept to keep in balance. Often we find ourselves making too much or too little of it. It is true, however, that many of the events in our lives, which seem to come at random with no significance, are actually events that the Lord is using to orchestrate His purpose in our lives. For example, Saul goes looking for donkeys and ends up discovering that he will be king of Israel. We should always bathe our daily activities in prayer, for we never know what the Lord might be preparing for us.

PRAYER

Even though you may be in pain, praise the Lord that He loves you and cares for you:
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His
commandments (Psalm 112:1).
Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
Until He has mercy on us (Psalm 123:1-2).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
O Israel, return to the Lord your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
Take words with you,
And return to the Lord.
Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips” (Hosea 14:1-2).

Pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater wisdom in decision making
• The needs of personal friends
• Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered (Psalm 40:5).