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Come Out Praising

Sunday, January 25

1 Samuel 22:5 (NIV)

“But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.”

Devotion

David went down to the cave to escape from Saul. He was running for his life. He did not know where to turn or whom to really trust, except for God who had always been there for him. David knew he could trust what Gad the prophet told him to do, even though the cave seemed to be the safest place to be because Saul did not know where David was hiding. If he left his hiding place, he might be killed. Yet in Psalm 32:7, David says to God that He is his hiding place. He, the Lord, is David's protection.

In his message on Sunday, Pastor Javon Ruff said that caves have a way of messing us up. David had no guarantee that he would not eventually be found out, but he did know that he could trust God and His messengers. God had proven His faithfulness when David, alone, killed a bear and a lion. It was God who gave him the strength to defeat both animals—and later, Goliath. God was an anchor that David could trust. So instead of staying hidden, he came out and went to Judah. He went there to praise God in spite of the threat to his own life.

Do we trust in God, or do we hide in our own self-made caves? Do we run to God or away from Him? Is our gaze fixed on Him, or on our problems? God is steadfast, immovable, and never changes. Are we going to step out and worship in the battle like Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah? Are we going to trust God for the impossible, like Joshua and the Israelites did with the wall of Jericho? We need to come out praising the Lord like David, because the battle belongs to the Lord, and He will fight for us.

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I give You praise, for You are Almighty God, and there is none like You. I will praise Your name forever, for Your greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another and declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on Your glorious splendor and declare the memory of Your great goodness. Thank You for showing Me who You are during this fast. I worship You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

Psalm 8:2 talks about praise stilling the enemy. Distractions, anxieties, and fear are meant to steer you off this course. Commit to letting the high praise of God—a declaration of faith and victory before it manifests—be in your mouth throughout the year. Let it be a course you will not veer from. Start today, as we celebrate the end of this fast, and continue to walk in all the good things the Lord has done.

Resources
  • Lift your hearts and worship with us at 9 AM or 11 AM this morning. Watch live right here on the App, Facebook, or YouTube. Don’t miss it!
  • Check out our events calendar to see all the activities we have planned this February. It’s going to be a month full of exciting things here at Free Chapel. Events.
  • The Power of Short Prayers is available for purchase at https://thepowerofshortprayers.com. Don’t miss this life-changing read!