Need a Strategy?

Need A Strategy?                              


Do you need a strategy—you know, a plan?  

Image by Connie Wohlford

Are you trying to figure out what to do next—what the future holds?


David, the shepherd boy—turned warrior—turned fugitive—turned king--had just been crowned king over Israel’s newly unified kingdom. He and his people were under threat from their long-time enemy, the Philistines, on two fronts. This young king (age 30) needed a strategy. 


As was his practice, he asked God what he should do. In 2 Samuel 5:19b, we’re told that David inquired of the Lord and the answer was this: “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 


David did as God instructed and God did as He said He would do.


Before long, the Philistines were gathering in another location to go against the Israelites. David turned to God again for guidance. I love the way God gave David a unique and specific strategy.


“Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, ‘You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.’ And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer” (2 Samuel 5:23-25). 


Maybe you need a unique and specific strategy right about now. Do you feel like you’re being attacked by the enemy called COVID19—perhaps on two or more fronts even? We’re all affected in some way. 


Do you need a strategy—a plan on how to handle health concerns, family unity, friendships, loss of income, or   (fill in the blank)   ? Or your enemy may have nothing to do with COVID19. You still need a strategy.  


If your health is compromised, you need a strategy. 


If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, you need a strategy. 


If your way of life has been turned wrong side out, you need a strategy. 

If you've lost your job, your business, or your nest egg, you need a strategy.


If you’re in the middle of constructing a house or a business, you need a strategy. 


If you’re alive, you need a strategy. 


Like David, we need to inquire of the LORD. We need to ask God. 


God has a strategy. He has a strategy for everything that concerns us. 


A long time ago, King David, as psalm writer, spoke to God saying, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made … Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none of them. How great are Your thoughts of me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand” (Psalm 139:13-17).

Photo by Connie Wohlford

God sees, God knows, God cares, and God has a plan. 

It’s reassuring, and exciting, to know that if God saw each of us as we were being formed in our mothers’ wombs and fashioned our days, He surely has a strategy for us to successfully work through the trials life delivers to us. 

After all, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV).


Since we have free will, some of our trials and our enemies may be self-imposed due to our own lack of following God’s leading along the way. Nonetheless, He still wants to help and has a strategy to do so.


God knows what we should do in every situation. It may not involve Mulberry Trees, but it will work. We need to inquire of Him, listen for His answer, and do what He says. For many people, hearing God’s answer is where the problem comes in. 


I’ve often heard it said, “I never hear anything from God.” The first thing I say back is something like, “Do you read your Bible regularly?” At least ninety-nine percent of the time their answer is, “No.”    

God speaks to us in many ways. In my experience, I mostly hear from Him through study and meditating on His Word. Also, He speaks through prayer and sitting quietly before Him, through other people, and through situations happening around us. He can be very creative in how He speaks to His people.

At 2 Sam. 5:23-25 - Photo by Connie Wohlford

When we think we have an answer, we can test it against God’s Word and His character to see if it lines up. But, how can we do that if we don’t spend quality time in the Bible?     


Will we sometimes miss God? Yes, but He knows our hearts and He’s well able to help us get back on track.


So, what is it that you need a strategy for at this moment? 


Let’s pray: Father God, You know every detail of every situation in my life. I need Your help and I need a plan—a strategy—to help me work my way through this. Please help me hear your voice and show me what I need to do. Then, Lord, I ask that You help me have the courage and the strength to follow through. I praise You and thank you for Your love, Your care, and Your help. In Jesus name, Amen.    


Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotes are taken from the New King James Version.

©Copyright 2020 Connie Wohlford

3 Ways Bible Study Changed My Life

3 Ways Bible Study Changed My Life              

                                                                                 

Just a few days ago my fifteen year old grandson, Michael, asked, “Granny, how can someone really know for sure that they’re saved?”

That’s a heavy-duty question for this young man to come up with, but I was glad he did. I told him his question was very common and that I had wondered that myself in years past. I went on to tell him that the best way to be confident that we’re saved is to read and study our Bibles. 

In Scripture we can get to know God better—learn about His character and His unfailing love. Also, there are many scripture verses which express our eternal security. It’s truly life-changing to have this assurance about our destiny when we take our last breath.

Jesus said, “My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is about to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29 NKJV).

Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).

In addition to Scripture we have the Holy Spirit Himself, who resides in every believer, bearing witness to our own spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16).

I encouraged Michael to spend time getting to know his Heavenly Father better by digging into God’s Word and see if it will help him have more confidence in his Savior and the salvation he has received.

Hearing From God

Another question I’ve been asked deals with hearing from God. People say, “Why have I never heard God speak to me? People talk about hearing from God but He’s never said anything to me.”

My response: “Do you read and study your Bible?”

As best I recall, every time they answer, “No,” or “Not much.”

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned through in-depth Bible study is that through His Word, God speaks to me personally and specifically. I’m often amazed—not surprised—but amazed—when I’m reading or studying a passage of Scripture and it applies directly to something going on in my life at that moment.

An example that comes to mind is when I bought a dress from a friend. We agreed on a price and she handed over the dress and said, “You can give me the money whenever—no rush.”

Two or three weeks went by and one morning, while studying in Proverbs God spoke to me and said, “You need to give Dianne the money for the dress.”

I didn’t hear an audible voice but the Holy Spirit spoke very clearly to my spirit. I knew, without doubting, that God was speaking to me.

“What was the passage?” you might ask. Here it is: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand” (Proverbs 3:27 NKJV).

When I read this I instantly knew I needed to pay that debt sooner rather than later. I had the money but a convenient time had simply not arisen. The situation could have dragged on for weeks but I was not to let that happen. I gave Dianne her money within a couple days and told her how the Lord had spoken to me about it. She got her money and was blessed by my testimony regarding the situation.

This was a very simple situation regarding a relatively insignificant matter but it was a great experience for me. It occurred many years ago and was one of the first occasions when God spoke clearly and directly through His Word to me concerning a specific matter in my life. I’ll never forget it. 

 He has spoken to me many times through His Word about life-changing matters as well as simple day to day issues.

Our Creator knows each of us better than we know ourselves and He knows what’s best—what we should say and do and where we should go. Possibly His favorite method of talking to us is through His Word. I’ve learned this by experience. If this has not been your experience, I highly recommend you give it a try. I believe you’ll be blessed, surprised and thrilled by the mysteries revealed, directions laid out, and encouragement given by our omniscient Heavenly Father through His own words to you.

Knowing the Father and Knowing Ourselves

A third way Bible study has changed my life is that it has helped me overcome insecurity. The belief that I was inferior to everyone around me plagued me much of my life. But there was something about getting to know my Heavenly Father and Jesus, my Savior, through His Word that lifted me out of the fear, discouragements and other negatives characteristic of being insecure.

To anyone who wants to be the best they can be and live the abundant life God desires for each of us, I say, “Get into Bible study! Get to know your Creator well. Taste and see that the Lord is oh so good.”

As a comment, below, please share how Bible study has benefited you or changed your life.

©Copyright 2017 Connie Wohlford