REACTIONS
Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 30-31
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Around 1100 BC, the Canaanite city of Beit She'an (modern name) was conquered by the Philistines, who used it as a base of operations for further penetrations into Israel. During a battle against King Saul at nearby Mount Gilboa, the Philistines prevailed. 1 Samuel 31:10 states that the victorious Philistines hung the body of King Saul on the walls of "Beth Shan." Historians believe that event took place in 1004 BC. The ruins seen here are from the Greco Roman period. The hill in the background is the tel of Beth Shan. The fortified city centre was built on the highest ground, and the destruction of the city, again and again through the centuries, raised the hill as they rebuilt the cities many times on top of the ruins of the old cities.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 1 Samuel 30:6b, 24
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God…For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, please guide me in my decisions. I need You so very much to show me how to react in a way that would please You and bless others. Holy Spirit, I ask for You to fill me for this new day with Your wisdom and with the manifestation of the character of Jesus, in whose Name I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve just read several lines written by Hilda Schnell, which expresses how I’m feeling just now. Here are the last lines – “Your unfailing, unconditional love compels the eyes of my spirit to look up, beyond my faltering steps, and gross weakness, to Your indomitable strength.” I need God’s strength, not just for big challenges but for the little things as well. I was disturbed this past Sunday as I exited the parking lot, following the service at a large church we attended. While I was waiting to get in line, I heard a lady yelling at the man in the car in front of her. He was very patiently waiting for other cars to pass in front of him, and her reaction may have indicated that she needed to go back into church and pray a little longer. I should’t be so judgemental, I know. I’ve been tempted to do the same from time to time. She may have been under pressures that I know nothing about. As I sat there waiting, I prayed for her for the growth of that fruit of the Spirit known as “patience,” and then, thinking about my own reactions, I prayed for myself too.
Yours for becoming more like Jesus in our reactions,
David
Dear Ps David,
Last night, I read the book titled “100” again, this time, I was very touched by how God had used you for His healing of Mrs.Fritz(page 90). I was teary because God can use you so wisely for His purpose. The Power of Prayer indeed was mightiful. You said,” When prayer is there, grace abounds” Wow! I will remember that and pray for everything for with God, nothing is impossible.
May the Lord give you many many years to serve Him.
With blessing, lin
It’s one thing to be a believer in Chirst, but it’s another thing to be Christ-like. Just as it’s one thing to read the Holy Scriptures but it is quite another thing to get wisdom. I pray that we all might have the integrity of character to choose the ‘right’ by listening closely to the Holy Spirit as we make moment by moment choices in our lives. We need to be ever vigilant and choose wisely what we will say and what actions we will commit. Keep in prayer, keep close to Him … through God’s love. Amen.
So very true, Scott. Hard to do sometimes especially in trafic. The Lord spared us from an accident this weekend – driver backing into our path without looking. Reaction sure can show you where you need to have a right spirit!
I agree with your comments Scott!!!
Your prayer is spot on David, just what I prayed before I read what you wrote. A similar experience hapened to me on the same day. In today’s reading David had shown great strength and wisdom in tempering his reactions in accordance to the “bigger picture,” God revealed. He turned and looked in the right direction … Up. I suppose this could be dangerous driving … thank God for His prompting, which we ought follow, within. The Holy Spirit can be as putting on a pair of glasses to help us see clearly in the present and feel stronger as we reflect upon our reactions in the past. I am looking at a hawk sitting on a pole right now … such strength! Have a great day everyone!
I, too have reacted to a situation in the wrong way. Just this past Saturday, I reacted in a way that was not Christ-like. I felt terrible after and then I repented and said I was sorry to that person. I am so glad that we serve a loving, forgiving God. No matter how many times we fail Him, He is always there to pick us up. PTL!!!
Have a great day fellow bloggers!!
I’ve belonged to Jesus for 64 years, but I still need to learn more of His patience and love. I take fresh courage in hearing from a godly man like David Mainse who has been so mightily used of God for decades now, yet you still need to pray for patience, love and forgiveness. Thank you for being honest with God and with your readers.
The devil certainly tries to keep us from being at peace with one another. It is our responsibility to keep Christ centered and praying for each other and ourselves. Interesting that we have all recently experienced that! Indeed, there is no such thing as coincidence. God wants our focus here.
From Streams in the Desert 1, Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, p. 113:
“On a day in the autumn, I saw a prairie eagle mortally wounded by a rifle shot. His eyes still gleamed like a circle of light. Then he slowly turned his head, and gave one more searching and longing look at the sky. He had often swept those starry spaces with his wonderful wings. The beautiful sky was the home of his heart. It was the eagle’s domain. A thousand times he had exploited there his splendid strength. In those faraway heights he had played with the lightnings, and raced with the winds, and now, so far away from home, the eagle lay dying, done to the death, because for once he forgot and flew too low. The soul is that eagle. This is not its home. It must not lose the skyward look. We must keep faith, we must keep hope, we must keep courage, we must keep Christ. We would better creep away from the battlefield at once if we are not going to be brave. There is no time for the soul to stampede. Keep the skyward look, my soul; keep the skyward look!
“Keep looking up–
The waves that roar around thy feet,
Jehovah-Jireh will defeat
When looking up.
Keep looking up–
Though darkness seems to wrap thy soul;
The Light of Light shall fill thy soul
When looking up.
Keep looking up–
When worn, distracted with the fight;
Your Captain gives you conquering might
When you look up.”
Peace and blessings to you and Norma Jean, today, David, and fellow saints!
I was thinking about the same thing of having patience with traffic, David. Beautiful, Kathleen! I needed that in my weakness today David and Kathleen. God bless you all. Enjoy all the blogs.
Dear David,
Thank you for your very special devotional thoughts. I have been following these each day, almost from the beginning. My apologies for not responding sooner, as I was confused in my earlier attempts on how to write a note to encourage you with this devotional but also in your current health situation. I have appreciated the related photos with subtitles and google-earth locations.
May God continue to bless you as you seek to honour Him.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bob.
Dear David,
I just love your blogs and all the little nuggets of life and truth. The only thing I
hate is having to delete any of them. Are you considering ever putting these
blogs in a book? All the beautiful photos Reynold takes, I just hate deleting any
of them. Thank you so much, I pray for you all and especially you with all your treatment at this time as well. Your family are a credit to you as I was so sad when you retired but they all certainly carry forward the Crossroad tradition. May God continue to bless you all and give you the strength and endurance you need to complete this blog and I would just love to see it in book form.
Thank you David for your sight and fellow bloggers for your insights.The 100 words has truly blessed me and helped me to grow , me I am learning my need to apply all of God’s Word, not just the parts that are comfortable for me. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that this can happen. Thank you God for all you do!!!!
We are all a ‘work’ in progress and the ‘old nature’ can rear it’s ugly head at times as we display a first reaction response. When that happens, we need to pick ourselves up and begin anew, confessing our failing and learning from it….and making amends whenever possible. It is such a comfort to know the Lord is always ready to forgive and give us a clean slate.
I pray a similar prayer to yours David M. every morning before starting my day. I pray that all I say and do will glorify Him and will be a source of encouragement and hope to those whose paths cross mine.
David M. this blog is such a source of encouragment to me each day and I thank you for your faithfulness in providing this time for us who are following.
I appreciate all who blog in comments as well. Such a learning opportunity from so many! And Reynold your photo’s are an added bonus. 🙂
we all are of a fallen race, but PTL God our Lord JESUS has not left us there
.Thankyou D. Ma. for giving us this blog to get our Bible study every morning.
My prayers go out for you may God give you strength and healing…R.
Dear David and fellow bloggers, I’m so greateful for teaching that each of you offer me in my bible studying.Can’t believe we are about two months away from a year of 100 words !
God willing may be we could all get together one day. I long to give each of you a big hug.
God bless you all
Dear David,
It has been a long time since I wanted to write to you and express our sincere appreciation of your blog. George and I read it regularly and we want you to know that it blesses us, encourages us, teaches us, moves us to tears, We enjoy the depth of your knowledge, the photos and videos attached. We strongly sense your passion for God’s Word. for His people and for Canada. It overwhelms us and we pray for you and ask God to continue to use you so mightily for His glory.
With all our love to you and Norma-Jean,
Marina and George
I am up in the night trying to settle my heart down and this stomach flu bug has hit me real hard. I have called the 100 Huntley street prayer line as well as my church. I have read the rest of the blogs and they are an encouragement to me. Would you please pray for me too? Thank you David and fellow bloggers. Trials are to purify and test us. The enemy doesn’t like it when we try to draw closer to Him.
Ger, my husband Bill and I just prayed for you. We prayed that the Lord would minister to you and heal you of the flu bug. We pray that you will feel His warm healing presence. Amen and amen!!