For You--Have I Got a Plan!

Understanding Your Worth and Value

                         For You…Have I Got a Plan!

“He’s coming…He’s coming. Get in order. Stand up tall. Did you brush your teeth? Fix your hair? Now smile, be confident. Today one of you is going to be picked to be the next king of Israel.”

Seven brothers tried to look their very best.

Seven had to impress the prophet Samuel who would choose one of them. Seven were capable, strong, good

looking men. They were really—something! They were the magnificent seven! Who could be better?

Seven knees were knocking as Samuel examined each candidate. But Samuel was puzzled. “Now, certainly, Lord, one of these you have chosen. Look how tall and strong and valiant they are. Surely one of these is to

be king.”

Samuel walked down the line again.

“Samuel, I don’t care… good looking or not.  I don’t see like others do. I’m God. I look at the heart. That’s what important to me. I

have rejected all of these seven magnificent. “

“Jesse, you’re holding out on me. Do you have any other sons?”

“Well… there’s David but he just watches the

sheep. He’s a wimpy kid. Sure you want him?”

“Now—right now! Bring me that boy!”

But God loved David’s heart. God heard David’s cry and helped

him kill a lion and a bear. And God heard David sing songs to Him/ No one else did. So what—God did!

So a young unnoticed David came running and the moment Samuel saw his face he heard these words. “This is he. This is the next king. Anoint him with oil. Now—right now!”

And oil flowed from Samuel’s horn as the magnificent seven stood

watching in silence and unbelief.

Your worth and value is seen by your heavenly Father. Come close

and listen to His heart, His love for you. Ask Him for the plans He has for you. Trust Him with all your heart. He loves you—so. He sees you standing there and says, “I pick that one! I choose YOU!”

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.  

Great People are Humble before God

 

                                                       The Fool

David was outraged! “Who is this Nabal? We were a wall of fire around his shepherds, his flocks. We laid down our lives against invading robbers.

“This is the thanks we get? No sharing in Nabal’s feast

tonight?  Nabal treats me and my men like dirt, the scum of the earth. This means… war!”

But Nabal’s wife heard the news. Abigail loaded up her donkeys with fig and raisin cakes, bread, corn on the cob and lamb stew for David and his men. She sneaked away and met David who was on his way to slaughter all that belonged to Nabal.

Abigail fell down on her face. She had heard of David’s flight from a murderous King Saul. She had heard the stories of his

bravery. She knew, David was a valiant man.

“My lord David, do not take vengeance on my husband. He is a fool, mean and contemptible… so true. God will avenge you. “

David halted, soaked in her wisdom—her loveliness as well. “Such a sweet lady!

How’d she ever get hooked up with Nabal?”

 Abigail took the sword out of David’s hand that day. She was right. God would get even.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Nabal was in his glory—another successful sheep shearing. Drunk with wine he partied far into the night.

In the morning—Abigail told all!

Like lightening bolting from the sky, Nabal’s heart was struck. Terror hit hard. Ten days later it was all over. Nabal, the wealthy, wicked

farmer was dead!

Ten is the number of completion, perfection. God gave Nabal time to change—plenty of time. That's the true heart of God. He takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner.

God loves humility. He wanted to save Nabal. But humility never came and a man consumed with himself lost everything—most of all—eternity with God!

“God brings down the proud and saves the humble.”

Job 22:29(GNT)

The Egotist - Great People Give God Glory

The Egotist

“First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall”

Proverbs 16:18 (MSG)

Young David looked into the mocking eyes of the giant who stood a whopping 9’7” tall.

God had already helped him kill a lion and a bear that went after his father’s sheep. God would do it again. 

Goliath sneered, “You’re dead meat, a joke, an insult to me! I’m gonna to feed your flesh to the buzzards. You’ll be toast today.”

David shot back unafraid, “It is the God of the Armies of Heaven that you spit upon today. He will hand you over to me and I will cut off your head.”

And—David did!

Another true story

David Wilkerson was a skinny teen. As a young boy his family moved quite often. He hated this. He could always count on a new bully.

When he set foot on the next campus his peers told him to get ready. He was going to be approached by Billy, the campus bully. Everyone took note of Billy. He was BIG!

David prayed, “Help, Lord!” A scripture flashed through David’s mind.

“It’s not by power, not by might, but by my spirit, says the Lord,”

Zechariah 4:6

The dreaded day came. As David walked home from school he saw Billy on the opposite sidewalk—Billy crossed over.

“Look at you, you skinny kid. I’m gonna knock your brains out.”

Under his breath, David began to whisper, “It’s not by might, not by power, but by My Spirt…not by might, not by power, but by my spirit…”

And as he circled Billy, David felt courage rising. He just kept circling with raised fists and whispering the verse! Nothing—ever happened. Billy walked away—mystified by David’s courage, confidence, and his fearlessness!

The next day, Billy hailed David a hero, a tough guy.

If you want to be a champion, turn to God, and give Him glory.

And a sure fire way to loose, refuse to trust in God—be an egotist.