Perceive: Seeing the massive number of enemy troops arrive for battle, Saul is terrified. Although he has failed to seek God on an ongoing basis, he asks the Lord what to do in this situation, but the Lord does not answer him. In a desperate attempt to determine God’s will, Saul sinks deeper in sin by dressing like a common man and seeking some occultist support from a witch in Endor. This particular witch was a necromancer; a person who speaks to the dead to predict the future. During her occult session, she realizes her séance seeker is king Saul and the man to conjure up is the dead prophet, Samuel. She is alarmed and afraid for her life. Saul in his desperate mindset bows to Samuel.
 
Practice: God strictly forbids us to have anything to do with divination, sorcery, witchcraft, mediums, or anyone who consults with the dead. People who practice the occult are the pawns of Satan and his demons. They (Satan and his demons) are the source of their prophetic information. As a Christian, our obedience must flow from an ongoing relationship, not on hopes of control or contrived blessings.  Today God speaks through His methods, the Bible, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the peace of God, and the circumstances surrounding the individual believer and the local church.
 
Pray:  Father, help me to seek You in all the aspects of my life especially at times when You are silent and at times when I am screaming for help. Be with me and fill me with Your presence. ​

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

Perceive: The battle with the Amalekites results in a stunning victory. After returning to the men who were too exhausted to follow him into battle, the wicked and worthless soldiers in his army acted in a selfish and greedy manner. They were angry and demanded that those who were in the rescue battle should share the plunder and those who stayed with the baggage could only have his family members returned. David makes a great statement about sharing the load in any organization. Those on the front line must share with those who stay and support from the rear. David then shares the plunder with his friends in Judah. Most likely these were the citizens who he would later rule over as king.
 
Practice:  This principle of sharing was so important to David that he made a law that those who stayed with the supplies were to be treated equally with those who served on the front lines. Today’s military concept of the tooth to tail is about one to three. In other words, it takes three people in the rear working support logistics to support one combatant fighting on the front line. All of us who name the name of Christ are in His army. In some situations, we are on the front lines, and in others, we are supporting from the rear. His army needs healthy warriors in the tooth and the tail. No matter where you serve, you should be a soldier of the cross!
 
Pray: O Lord, thank You for the saints of Your army. Help me to be supportive and honoring to all who serve You. 

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

Perceive: In the hot pursuit of finding the Amalekites who have kidnapped his family and plundered his camp, David finds an Egyptian left to die of his illness or starve to death. David and his men provide food and immediate medical care. Consequently, the Egyptian is glad to receive their kindness and willingly helps them locate the Raiders camp. In God’s perfect timing, David and his men find the Amalekites reveling in the spoils they plundered. It was picture-perfect time to strike them down, rescue their families, and take back the stolen articles. David and his men recover everything they lost and gain some new plunder in the process. God is continuing to bless David in some unique ways. Through his faith in Yahweh and his resolve to avenge his and his men’s losses, David turns a hopeless situation into a great victory.
 
Practice:  The Amalekites thought they were lightening their burdens when they cruelly left a slave to die on his own, but God used him to help David and his men find where the enemy camped. As Christians, we should treat everyone we meet with respect and human dignity, no matter how unimportant they may seem. You never know how God will use them to help you. You never know how God may use you to help them!
 
Pray:  All mighty God let me see the value of everyone I meet the way you see them. Help me to be courteous and respectful to those who seem insignificant and to those who seem important. 

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

Perceive: In this section of Scripture, we see two new groups of mighty warriors joining David and his band-of-brothers. From Gad comes a group of men ready for battle with spears and shields. From Benjamin and Judah come additional warriors who David approaches with caution since they were part of Saul’s tribe. After seeing the Holy Spirit come upon Amasai, he welcomes them and makes these seasoned combatants captains in his army. David’s walk with God, influence, and army continue to grow and expand. Again and again, Israel is reaffirming David as the legitimate ruler.
 
Practice:  There are some subtle differences between the way the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament (OT) and then in the New Testament (NT). In the OT when God had something critical to happen or to say, He chose a person to do it or to say it. The Holy Spirit would come upon a person and thereby give them the power and ability to accomplish whatever God intended. Here the Spirit comes upon Amasai, a mighty warrior, and he spoke God’s word. In the New Testament the Spirit comes upon all true believers, not only to do God’s will, but to convict us of our sin, and dwell within us day-by-day. Some people have stronger manifestations than others. If you have felt convicted of sin, then you have had a manifestation.
 
Pray:  O mighty God, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Please continue to manifest Your presence in my life in any way that brings glory to You.

Perceive: Once again the Amalekites have ruthlessly attacked and plundered David’s current home city, and taken alive all the women and children of his men. Having lost their families and fortunes, his men look to blame someone. His men become upset and they consider killing David. But David went to the one source he could always count on and found strength in the Lord his God. Using the ephod and the high priest, David seeks the word of the Lord before he takes action. Over the course of his rise to kingship, David’s character reflects the importance he attaches to seeking guidance from God. God gives him an affirmation in a rescue mission, and David immediately acts in faith.
 
Practice:  David combines personal involvement in mustering his strength with an emphasis on Yahweh as the means by which he grows stronger in the Lord. He demonstrates total reliance on God through his inquiry. After receiving the word of the Lord and His promise of deliverance, he acts in strong faith. His current difficulties such as locating the camp, having exhausted men, or being outnumbered, do not deter his movement forward. He reflects the strength he received from God with actions that are decisive, assured, tactful, and firm. As Christian men, we should seek God’s strength through the written Word, and then act boldly with confidence and hope.
 
Pray:  Thank you, Lord, for always being available in good times and the bad. Help me always to seek Your face first.  to edit.

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