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The Importance of Being Alone with God Pt3



“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6, NKJV).

  In the passage above, we discover David in a very precarious situation.  He is very much alone after he and his men return to camp from a raid, only to discover their wives, children and possessions have been taken, their camp set on fire.  Everything is gone.  David’s own mighty men spoke of stoning him.  He has only one place to turn to, that is to God.  

  Have you ever felt so alone, and the circumstances seemed so bleak that you despaired even of life itself?  This is where we find David.  But David knows the Lord.  He knows the Lord because He has spent countless hours alone with Him.  And it is those times of being alone which helped David navigate this perilous situation.

  One of the most valuable and precious disciplines in my life has to do with spending time with God.  I find that even when I don’t feel His presence; over time, His presence changes me.  This is the time of watering that makes one grow spiritually.

There is something else interesting about David’s response to his trouble we can and should learn from: David immediately got alone with the Lord to inquire of Him; what should he do? How should he respond to this potentially deadly, and terrifying ordeal?  David sought God; he did not run to man.  

David knew the importance of seeking God first rather than calling a friend, calling his psychiatrist, requesting a meeting with a foreign king for reinforcement.  I believe it is these two things; being alone with God and seeking Him alone which ultimately brought David through.  Regardless of the terror David experienced, despite the sweat beads, stomachache and the sheer anxiety of the moment, he asked God for help and waited until God responded.  In that moment his family’s deliverance was sure.

The Bible is God’s message of salvation to mankind.  Hidden right in the middle of it is a tangible example which reinforces what I have just shared with you.

 There are 1189 chapters in the Bible.  Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter, while Psalm 119 is the longest, with Psalm 118 in between.  There are 594 chapters before and after Psalm 118, making it the central chapter.  Remember, I said there are 1189 chapters altogether.  What is the center verse in the Bible? Psalm 118:9, which says this: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”  

Finally, for each one of us, Isaiah 40:31 speaks for itself: “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  I want to leave you with this closing thought: Get in the habit of spending time alone with God and when you run into trouble, seek Him alone. Like David, you too can recover all.  

  More next week! 

  

Rob Granger and his wife, Becky, serve as Executive Pastors of Grace Church San Marcos under Senior Pastors Brian and Melissa Bauer. Located at 855 E. Barham Drive, San Marcos, Grace San Marcos meets at 10 a.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with meetings for youth, children and other groups scheduled throughout the week. Visit www.gracesanmarcos.net for further information.

  The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Times-Advocate.

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