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?

Ruth 2-4, John 4:43-54, Psalms 105:16-36, Proverbs 14:26-27

What God said to me – There are people who when they read a novel, once they get involved in the story, they stop and go read the end to make sure it has a happy ending before they proceed with reading it.  They then settle down and enjoy the entire book even though they don’t know all that is going to happen because they know how it turns out in the end.  In the story of Naomi and Ruth, when Naomi returned to her hometown with Ruth, she was bitter and sad because of the things that had happened to her.  Now fast forward to the end of the book and you find the “happy” ending.  Ruth was redeemed by a wealthy relative and became the great grandmother of king David and eventually Messiah.  Ruth was a daughter-in-law who loved her and provided for her.  Naomi wasted so much time on complaints and bitterness when My plan for her was peace and joy.  So, how are you responding to the difficult things you encounter in your life?  Are you wasting your life on bitterness and complaints or are you trusting My sovereignty and My promises and experiencing peace and joy?  You’ve read the end of the book.  You know how the story ends so you can praise in the in-between and live in faith and hope and trust.  “I AM” faithful.