“David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

The Bible has a way of mellowing out the suffering, anguish, terror.

“David was greatly distressed.”

That makes it sound like David was having a bad day. Maybe even a really bad day. But it doesn’t come close to how horrendous that day must have been like.

David’s decision as a leader led to catastrophic loss, not only for himself, but all his followers. You see, while David and his men were out to battle, the Amalekites raided where David and his men had been staying. They captured all the old, the women, and children and took everything that David and his men owned.

David’s men were devastated. Their wives, children, parents were all gone. They wanted to kill David.

Ever been there? Where your decision as a leader led to catastrophic results for your followers. They lose everything because of your decision as a leader?

This was a nightmare of all nightmares.

David’s men wanted to kill him. I’ve made some dumb leadership decisions but I can’t ever remember people wanting to kill me!

I have no idea how much time passed. I don’t know if we’re talking hours or days of anguish. It is probably the latter.

Those hours and days had to have been torture. I can’t even imagine. These were the valleys of the shadow of death.

What are you supposed to do? What do you do when all hell breaks loose?

We’re told, “but David found strength in his God.”

David found strength in God. Prayer. Psalms. Being in the presence of God gave David strength.

This doesn’t mean the nightmare disappears. This doesn’t mean everything returns to normal. It does mean God gives you strength and perspective so that you can keep going and keep leading.

Your time with God in God’s word and in prayer is essential. There will come a time when your very life may depend on it. You will need to have in place a regular practice of finding strength in God.

Keep at it. Keep praying. Keep meditating on God’s word.

“Jesus replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer'” (Mark 9:29).

Kingdom ministry can only be done by kingdom power. Kingdom success won’t be the result of our efforts and strength.

Having said that, Kingdom ministry and success will not happen apart from the church and her saints.

How does this work?

Kingdom ministry and success is all about God. It’s his ministry. It’s his success. One of the keys to participating in God’s kingdom ministry is prayer. You cannot serve God and his kingdom without prayer.

Samuel Chadwick wrote, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayer less studies, prayer less ministry, prayer-less religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”

The devil trembles when Christians pray because that’s when Christians take a back seat to the ownership and the authority of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides and directs. It’s not the leadership of men and women. It’s the leadership of the Holy Spirit. That’s a game changer.

Friends, are you praying for God’s ministry at the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace? If you won’t pray for the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace who on earth is?

Pray for God’s leadership. Pray that our pastors, session, board of deacons and members are submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

John Bunyan wrote, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed. But you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”

“No weapon fashioned against you will prevail” (Isaiah 54:17).

This is a true statement. But, probably not in the way you are thinking.

This is a true statement because this has already happened. This is a true statement because this is already the reality.

When we read this statement, we hope that this is a true statement because we want our future to be successful, pain-free, trouble-free, suffering-free. We want our future to be filled with health and wealth.

But, that’s not what this verse promises. That’s not what the Bible promises.

This statement is true because of all that Jesus has already done for us on the cross. You see, the worst that could ever happen to us is not disease, failure, bankruptcy, or even death. The worst that could happen to us is eternal separation from God and his love.

But, because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, that can’t ever happen. Our status has already changed. We are no longer sinners. We are no longer separated from God and his love. We are already God’s sons and daughters. “Nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38).

Because this is already the reality for those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, nothing that happens today or in the days to come can change the truth of this statement.

God has already purchased the victory for us in his Son Jesus Christ. There is nothing the devil can do to separate us from this reality.

“No weapon fashioned against you will ever prevail.”

That is fantastic news. Thank God!