TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 13:8–10 KJV
[8] And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. [9] And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. [10] And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
Discussions:
The devotional today focuses on a king called Saul, whom God anointed and appointed as king over Israel. Things were not going according to plan, and King Saul yielded to the pressure of the people by making an offering that should have been made by a priest. He had already waited seven days for Samuel but did not wait long enough. Just a little more patience would have established his kingdom forever.
We live in a fast paced world, but we must learn to be patient and avoid haste. Satan takes advantage of God’s children when they become impatient. Many people have fallen victim to scams because scammers skilfully pressure them into making sensitive decisions in haste. For example: “This is your last chance; if you miss it, the opportunity will be gone forever, so act now!”
When you realize that you are becoming overly hasty about something, ask yourself: Why am I unnecessarily rushing this matter? Could I be under pressure or manipulation? Am I acting impulsively? Have I prayed about this? These few questions can help us avoid costly, hasty decisions.
The devotional is not suggesting that we do everything slowly. Rather, it teaches that important decisions should be made carefully and thoughtfully, especially when the consequences are significant.
The Bible records in Isaiah 28:16:
“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
We are not designed for haste. That is why a pregnant woman cannot give birth to an adult. It takes nine months for a baby to be formed and many more years for that child to become an adult.
Avoid haste in all areas of life. Allow God to guide your decisions. Pray about everything, and God will direct your path. If you are still in doubt, ask God to lead you to the right people who can help you understand the consequences before making any sensitive decision.
May the Lord guide us in all our decision making, in Jesus’ name.
Declaration:
I shall not make costly mistakes, in Jesus’ name. I am guided by the Lord, and I refuse to act in haste, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Light Up Christian Fellowship
