1 Samuel 5-7, John 6:1-21, Psalms 106:13-31, Proverbs 14:32-33

What God said to me – There is a movie, Hacksaw Ridge, about a conscientious objector named Desmond Doss who is a Christian who wants to serve as a battlefield medic during WWII.  He is harassed and beaten and forced to face a court martial trial for his beliefs.  He single-handedly saved seventy-five of his fellow soldiers in the heat of battle and ultimately is granted the Medal of Honor.  In one of the final scenes of the movie, his battalion refuses to go into battle until Private Doss prays.  There were other Christians who served, but he was the “one” everyone turned to in their desperation because of his steadfast walk and witness.  During the time in Israel’s history when Samuel was judge, from the time he was young it was obvious that I was with him and all Israel knew that he was My prophet.  After Israel’s terrible defeats by the Philistines, Samuel was the “one” who called them to return to Me and to turn away from idolatry.  He called them together so he could pray for them.  When the Philistines came back to battle against them, they begged Samuel not to quit praying for them.  You live in a world of chaos and upheaval and tragedy.  People are desperate for safety and peace and hope.  There are many who claim to be Christians, but when times are desperate, the world is looking for someone who is steadfast in their walk to fervently intercede for them.  You be that “one”.

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22, John 5:24-47, Psalms 106:1-12, Proverbs 14:30-31

What God said to me – Back in the day when Elvis Presley was a rock and roll idol, the crowd would hang around after a concert hoping for an encore.  The announcer would finally say, “Elvis has left the building” in order to disperse the disappointed crowd.  Back in the day of the judges of Israel when I was raising up Samuel to be a priest and a prophet, Israel went to battle against the Philistines and were defeated.  They never sought Me either before or after their defeat, but they sent to Shiloh to have the Ark of the Covenant where I sat above the cherubim brought so they could carry it into battle as a kind of good luck charm to ensure their win.  They suffered a horrific defeat where Eli and his two sons died along with thirty thousand Israeli soldiers, and My Ark was captured.  In great sorrow it was wailed, “the glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God was taken.”  The world is going to experience the same consequence as I give them over to judgment and they reap what they have sowed without Me.  You, however, as My child have the constant assurance and everlasting promise that I will never leave you or forsake you.  My Spirit is with you, leading you, guiding you, teaching you, convicting you, praying for you, and sealing you until the day I bring you to the place I have prepared for you – and lo “I AM” with you always.

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalms 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29

What God said to me – There is a saying “like father, like son”.  You see it reflected in reality when you see a little boy trailing after his father mimicking everything he sees his dad do.  It’s cute to watch, but there is a spiritual truth I want you to learn from it.  When My Son, Jesus, walked on the earth, He told the pharisees that He did the things He saw Me doing.  Whatever I did, He did in like manner.  He was able to do this because He knew Me and spent a great deal of time with Me, seeking direction and instruction.  If you truly want to walk in a manner worthy of your calling, you must learn this lesson also.  The more time you spend with Me, in My word, in prayer, seeking My direction and instruction, the better you will know Me and the easier it will be for you to follow after Me.  You will begin to look more and more like Me and the words you say will be like the things you hear from Me.  Those who are My children should look and act like Me.  Do you?