Miracles alone cannot give life change

Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah.” So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” - 1 Sam 19:22-24

iv. A person can be affected by the power of God (resulting in amazing experiences), but not surrendered to the power of God, which results in a change of life. - Guzik

Saul prophesying was remarkable because he had been so nonspiritual. Yet God was able to use him in a miraculous way. I'm often skeptical of people that perform miracles or have especially observable spiritual gifts because I know it doesn't mean they are any closer to God than I am - only that God would like to use them in that instance. I wonder about their true spiritual condition because I know the danger of being able to be used by God but not surrendering to Him.

When I look at my own life I plead, "God, I hope that I am not one of these that can be used by you for an amazing experience, but is not surrendered to you." Leading worship on Sundays or at whatever event can be performance based. That is, you perform because you have to, and in His grace He grants you a remarkable time.

I want to be unquestionably surrendered and experience life change. That is the kind of life I want to have and I could care less if I perform miracles.

Old Places

And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him. Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night. 1 Samuel 19

David never returned to the palace until he was king of Israel - some 20 years later! From now until the day Saul dies and David is crowned, David lives his life as a fugitive. - Guzik

After I moved away from my family in Orange County I would return every so often, and less and less as the years went by. I grew up in my grandparents' house, which was different than the house my family lived at. It had been several years since I had seen it so I took a drive over. The large house had been abandoned for nearly 10 years. In the back yard stood the remains of the wooden patio we would often play in as kids. The north fence still had a kind of dirt berm that used to be the junk pile area.
I remember the sin that happened there - my abuse as a child. "Oh Father, the sin that is on this land: forgive it and restore it to what you want it to be." And He has.

David's return to the palace after 20 years must have evoked some serious memories. "Oh God, the sin contained in these walls: forgive and restore." And so the Lord had.

Decision Making

1 Samuel 14:15 (NKJV) 15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.

Ministry - it truly is a series of difficult conversations. How I would love to pray, "Oh God, make everything perfect," but then, where was my part? In the praying? Was there something more that I could have done?

In the past I have postponed decisions to the last possible second so I would feel the most informed. A failure to act can have worse consequences than making a bad initial choice.

I work with our musicians and when one of them is struggling in skill and performance how do you approach that situation? My hope is that he would get better on his own. Or perhaps I can send him training material. No, I must speak with them and intervene. After I have boldly made a decision and acted on it, as Jonathan did, I can say, "I've done what I can."

Often we wait around for God to do what we can do. But God will often do miracles - what He alone can do - if we will do what we can do. - David Guzik

Peer Pressure

Then [Saul] waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. So Saul said, "Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me." And he offered the burnt offering.
- I Samuel 13:8-9

Saul took matters into his own hands when he saw the people scatter. Leaders need to maintain stability for their people. When the people sway (and they will sway) you need to remain steadfast to what the Lord would have you to do. Even if all the people left, Saul's whole organization crumbling, it would have been better for him to remain faithful to the Lord. The consequence - the Lord had planned to bless him with someone on his throne forever, but now he will lose that honor. It amazes me, the sins we think are so small and the large consequences they have. His children would die (including Jonathan!) and the throne would be passed on. Oh what a different world it would have been if Saul had remained faithful one more hour.

We might just imagine that in the early part of the week, Saul explained his thinking in a pep talk to the troops: “Men, we’re going into battle against the Philistines. They have more men, more chariots, more horses, and better swords and spears than we have.” So we have to trust God and make a quick attack before they can get organized. Soon Samuel will come and lead us in sacrifice before God. Then we’ll go out and whip the Philistines!” But it didn’t happen like that. The days dragged on, and Samuel hadn’t come yet. The troops were losing confidence in Saul as a leader, and beginning to scatter. Saul felt he was in a lot of trouble! - David Guzik