Perceive: Through the prophet Samuel, God gave Saul clear orders to be His instrument against the Amalekites for their attacks and ongoing raids against the nation of Israel. Saul and his men did not fully obey God’s command. Instead, they kept Agag the king and the best livestock for themselves. When God bans something, it is to be destroyed (Deut. 20:16-18)! The Lord’s command was to prevent the spread of idolatry. Many of the spoils they took became a focus of idol worship.
 
Practice:  When we justify our sin to keep what we have or gain substantial possessions and wealth, we aren't discerning; we are violating God’s laws. Selective compliance is another form of clear disobedience. Idolatry comes in many forms but especially in the area of wealth and material possessions.
 
Pray: Almighty God, show me the areas of my life where I am not fully devoted to obeying Your word and living according to Your will. 

​Perceive: The soldiers of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were successful in combat because they cried out to God during each battle. Although they had insight and expertise as combatants, they prayed and sought God’s direction. The normal and advanced capabilities God gives us are usable for Him, but they should never substitute our necessity for relying on Him. When we rely on our individual expertise, talent, and strength rather than God, we open the entrance for self-importance.
 
Practice:  When confronting a difficult situation, seek out God’s purpose and request His power and presence. Examine yourself and the situation for ways you can step forward in action and ways only God can act. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. “
 
Pray: O Lord my God, help me in dealing with _____________. I need to know what You want me to do in this situation and then act in ways only You can live out Your will. 

Perceive: It seems that after several sinful actions by king Saul that God would have hindered the national ability to win wars and protect borders but that was not the case. Victory is neither guaranteed nor limited to the righteous. Even as an ungodly king, he was in a war that the people had longed for, and not only did he gain liberation for Israel, but laid the groundwork of the growing realm of David and Solomon. Throughout history, God has used godly and ungodly leaders to further His kingdom.
 
Practice: Saul’s reign was filled with bitter wars on all sides but especially with the Philistines. They were a powerful and dangerous enemy to Israel. To maintain a prepared army to war with them and the other hostile nations, he surrounded himself with valiant soldiers ready for battle. In a similar way, the battles we face are not of this world but are all around us. The world, the flesh, and the Devil are fierce enemies of God. You can be better prepared for war by donning spiritual armor and having one or two fellow warriors to join you in the fight.
 
Pray: Lord, help me stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the readiness of the gospel. I now take up the shield of faith so that I can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. I put on the helmet of salvation, and grip the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Help me keep praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication, Amen

Perceive: Consider these two men. Jonathan’s character was quite a contrast to his father’s. Jonathan quickly acknowledges what he did, does not try to hide it, blame someone else, or make an excuse. Even though he was uninformed of the king’s foolish oath, he is willing to receive penalties for his behavior. On the other hand, Saul is more concerned about how he appears to others. To spare Jonathan’s life would require admitting he made a mistake and spoke a rash oath. A rash oath is an action no king should make.
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Practice:  All of us make mistakes and sometimes unknowingly. When you do something wrong no matter what the circumstance, respond like Jonathan and not like King Saul. Admit your mistakes and visibly demonstrate doing what is right rather than attempting to look good, especially at someone else’s expense. 
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Pray: Lord, help me to own my mistakes and to make any proper restitution to resolve the situation. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: When evening came and the government imposed fast was over, the men were so hungry that they slew and ate raw meat. Saul, who appears to have great concern for God’s law, quickly created an altar to God and had the people bring their animals there for slaughter before they prepared them for food. It was important for them to stop eating meat with blood in it. After the soldiers had eaten, Saul wanted to lead them on a nighttime raid of the Philistine camps but first sought God’s guidance through his priest. When the priest asked whether God would deliver the Philistines into their hands, there was no answer. The assumption was that God did not answer this prayer due to someone’s sin against a divine command.
 
Practice:  All too often men who severely condemn the faults of others are frequently blind to their own. Some leaders believe when they are successful, they should look outward and give credit to the men who accomplished the work. When things go wrong, they look in the mirror before thinking about others. Saul was the kind of leader who did the exact opposite. He sought glory for himself when things went well and blamed others when they went poorly. He sought God as a secondary thought rather than a primary action. When things go wrong, how do you respond? When we turn to God first, we will never have to turn to Him as a last resort.
 
Pray: O Lord help me to seek You first, no matter how bad some circumstance may look or feel in my life. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Jonathan, Saul’s son, and his armor bearer were used by the Lord to achieve a stunning victory over the Philistines while the king was only a spectator (vv. 16–18). Seeing the enemy in confusion, he then musters his troops and shares in the victory. Unfortunately, however, Saul had uttered a foolish vow that day by forbidding his soldiers to eat any food. Apparently, he thought fasting would invoke God's blessing. How foolish to think that a sacrificial vow would give him victory when his heart was not right with God.
 
Practice:  King Saul said his oath without thinking about the situation. We see no effort to understand if this was God’s will or His desire. Another problem with Saul was his pride and consistently wanting to glorify himself. This kind of person seldom reflects on his life and circumstances as possibly his fault. Leaders who fail to examine themselves tend to develop a false zeal. False zeal comes from regarding your wants and needs over the cause of advancing God’s kingdom. Before you utter a vow, be sure to know your heart and think through the impact on others.
 
Pray: Great and mighty God, help me guard my heart against any rash comments and help me think about the ramifications of statements in the future. I want all my words to count as worthy of Your kingdom. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

​Perceive: This story is a classic example of God bringing victory by a few. The young Prince Jonathan and his armor bearer relied upon the LORD and were directed by God into this battle.  Once these two men had climbed the steep embankment, they killed twenty soldiers where the immediate effect was the spread of fear in the Philistine camp. It was the enemy’s response to Jonathan’s reliance on God. The Lord can save when men act in faith.  What began as the adventure of a young man and his armor bearer soon became the cause of the whole nation. In the end, it was a victory for which God received the credit.
 
Practice:  When you are facing a difficult situation, or a battle of huge consequence, to which you personally feel woefully inadequate, God will develop helpful circumstances as you rely on Him. The helping circumstances will arise as you faithfully continue to accept your calling and to act with some competence.  The historical record of God’s faithfulness to His people should make us calm, strong, and immovable in any mission undertaken to advance Christ’s kingdom. How are you living by faith in the battles of life?
 
Pray: Lord, enable me to face my difficult situations with confidence knowing You are in control. Help me advance Your kingdom. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: How exciting is it to see God use a few men to lead a charge against superior numbers and route an enemy? In this story, Jonathan and his armor bearer lead a charge against the pagan Philistines army. While everyone else in the Israeli army was afraid, these two men trusted God. They realized that the magnitude of the enemy would not limit God’s ability to use them. God honored their faith and courage and brought about an incredible victory.
 
Practice:  Have you ever felt surrounded by an adversary or confronted with devastating circumstances? God is at no time overwhelmed by the dimensions of an enemy or the difficulty of a situation. With Him, there are continuously enough resources to fight the pressures of any circumstance and win the battle. If God has called you to act, then courageously commit what resources you have and depend on Him to lead you to a triumphant end.
 
Pray: All mighty God fill me with Your presence and give me strength as I live out Your purposes in my life. You are my refuge and my fortress in every devastating circumstance. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: In this text we see the Jewish army lacking numbers of men and weapons of warfare. The Philistines had so much control that they disarmed the weak group of Hebrews and limited their ability to produce agriculture. It is impossible to imagine a more hopeless state of affairs: all the tools of warfare on one side; the Philistines have all foresight, all shrewdness, and all determination. The enemy appears triumphant; the Israelites seem filled with despair. Against such superiority, the Israelites were at a severe disadvantage. 

Practice:  The battle history of the Jews with their pagan neighbors and their foes is typical of the existing relations of the Christian and the world. It should not surprise us if Christians sharpen their plowshares at Satan’s workshops. It should not surprise us if the guidelines of commerce, if the rules of judiciousness, if the conformities of society, are dictated by a narrow, exclusive spirit of an anti-Christ. Satan seeks to disarm us with every means possible. Our battle with him is daily. Christ withstood and defeated every temptation that can befall the hearts of men. How could the Israelites hope to rout their oppressors? Only with God's help. He wanted to give Israel victory without earthly weapons so they would see real strength, His power. In the same way, He desires to give us victory in daily living by His power, by His weapons, and by His strength. 

Pray: Thank you, Lord, for providing Your ability, strength, and weaponry. Enable me to see You in every battle of every war that I face in my daily struggles.

​​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Under the pressure of failure, Saul found it difficult to trust God’s word. He lacked having a full army, and the men who were with him were fleeing in the face of obvious danger. When his apparent time was running out, he took matters into his hands and clearly disobeyed God. He was “compelled” to perform the sacrifice because he feared that the Philistines would attack him before he had sought the Lord’s favor. Instead of trusting God he substituted a ritual in the place of real faith. Saul faced a difficult situation and made a decision that cost him the kingdom.
 
Practice:  God often uses timing and delays to test a man’s obedience. Saul made several seemingly great excuses for his partial compliance with God’s word. Like Saul, we often minimize our inaccuracies and iniquities by attempting to rationalize and spiritualize our actions because of our unique situations. There is a difference between a reason and an excuse. Most of our justifications are ways to hide our sins and excuse our disobedience. The Lord knows true motives. When we are honest about our sins, God forgives, restores, heals, and blesses.
 
Pray: Heavenly Father, help me recognize all the times I have failed to wait properly. Enable me to see my sins as You see them. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com