“Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. Moreover, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all.” (I Smauel 30:1-8 NASB 1995)
This is your Sunday Share meditation. Know that the content comes from the message delivered by our Pastor this past Sunday in the sanctuary of Salt Of The Earth Church (Indianapolis). While I will primarily focus on the title above, “Reframe It,” I’ll share some of the major points shared by Pastor: (1) Discouragements is coming in your troubled times, as well as times where you are existing in triumph and expecting tranquility. (2) God will support you. Yes, He stands ready to help you. Reach up to Hi before reacting instinctively. (3) But you got to remember God! Do as David probably did in our text. He remembered, as listed so orderly by Pastor, the multiple times that the Lord had delivered Him in the past. He had to remember the many words of encouragement found in the inspired word of God. If you want to hear the whole sent message, go to Salt Of The Earth Church’s Facebook page. I guarantee you will “Like” what you hear; something specifically for you.
Here’s my primary focus! At one point in the message, Pastor shared about how he had a window replaced recently. The installer suggested that instead of leaving the old, damaged wood that framed the window, reframe it, and there would be no more leaks, no more escaping heat, or any invading, frigid winds. His illustration, a true account, was to show you and me, that in those times when we face struggles, face situations that are hard to handle, or face Satan’s attempts to add discouragement on top of discouragement, we need to reframe what is confronting us. Pastor pointed out that we just need to turn things over to God, consult with Him, listen to what He says, and then and only after those pre-requisites, recommended actions, “Reframe it!” Reframe how you look at things. The result? Through your faith in God, you will be strengthened. (An amen gores right here!)
Reframe things, by resetting things when discouragement comes at you from more than one direction. As a result, instead of focusing on the crisis, you will get comfort. Instead of struggling in weakness, you will strive in victory, strengthened in the Lord. When you reframe your predicament, your will not focus on the problem, but the Problem Solver and the Promise Keeper. “Reframe it!” Deal with your unexpected disappointment, by looking at the One who delivers those saints who call on Him. When you question how you are going to fix something, anything, reframe it, stand on your faith, knowing that God is still Jehovah-Jireh. Yes, He will provide.
Listen, my friend, reframing worked for David, and it will work for you and for me as well! You will see that it worked for David when you read the two closing verses. Start your week and be ready to use the “Reframe It” technique that Pastor M.R. King shared with us through the specific sent message, sent specifically for you, and for me too! Have a great week! Be blessed!
“David slaughtered them from the twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. So, David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken and rescued his two wives. But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back.” 2 Samuel 30:8-9 NASB 1995)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King