Month: May 2025

Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 18:25 While struggling with addiction, I also struggled with being overweight and out of shape. As the drug consumed my life, my self-control in everything diminished and I was simply not motivated to exercise or eat right. When I saw…
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The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him…
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And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. 1 Samuel 18:7-8 Later this morning, I’m speaking to a group of high school students who meet weekly for breakfast and a devotional. There,…
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And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 1 Samuel 17:49 Yesterday was a tough workout at the gym, wiping me out for a couple…
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Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand,…
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And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28 A couple of months back, while…
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And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 I’ve had a big problem looming over my…
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And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. 1 Samuel 16:23 When our son was a toddler, we took his pacifiers away, but because his sister was still an…
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Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. 1 Samuel 16:14 Every late winter, I get a little Seasonal Affect Disorder, meaning I have some low-level depressive symptoms that turn around once the weather improves. It’s never been a big deal, never requiring medications our…
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But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 When I was 16, my father took…
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