What Have You Done?

Warriors Arise: December 19, 2020

1 Samuel 30:23 (NKJV) But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us...

These men had a huge victory. We never know how many Amalekites they fought but we do know two facts.

1. 400 of the young men fled on camels.

2. David and his men fought from twilight to evening of the next day.

How many Amalekites warriors do you think there might have been? I call them warriors because the it took around 16 hours to defeat them. If the Amalekites were not warriors the battle would have ended much sooner. The length of the battle also leads us to believe there were more than a thousand, probably several thousand Amalekite warriors.

Just like Gideon could not win the battle without God neither could David and his men. God sent Gideon in to battle with only 300 men against two nations. God sent David after the Amalekites with only 400 men. David is reminding his men, we did not win this battle without God.

The massive amount of plunder was enormous. Some would argue too much. The plunder they got from this battle with Amalekites was from thousands of men and their families. David and his warriors were only 400 and they could share with the 200 who couldn't go into battle with them.

What do you do with the abundance God has made a way for you to have?

I realize during this pandemic and uncertain times we can feel like we should hold on to more. But with this passage, what has God given to you in abundance? How are you acting with what God has given you?

The 400 men didn't want to give anything, not one thing to the 200 who did not fight in the battle. Remember, they only wanted to give them their wives and children then send them away. They weren't even going to let them find their possessions stolen from them by the Amalekites at Ziklag. The Bible refers to these men as wicked and worthless because they would not share the wealth from the battle and they wanted to send the 200 men with their wives and children away.

Something has been stirring in me since yesterday. My kids went to a youth group Christmas party Wednesday night and they won some cash, trinkets, candy and gift cards. Lydia was trying to make a deal and buy the gift card from Selah. I didn't understand why until I asked some questions. Lydia had won a gift card at the party but she gave it away. I asked her why she wanted to buy Selah's card when she should have just kept the one she won. She said it wasn't for her, "I gave my gift card to someone I know doesn't get to eat when they go home on the weekends. I was asking to buy Selah's card to give to another person who needs it. They may not have anything to eat over the Christmas break."

At this point I apologized, as I was pulling my foot out of my mouth. Her generosity has me asking God, "How can I give as my daughter gives? How can I be a blessing and help her give these kids food? What else do they need and how can I get what they need to them?"

Then we are praying through this passage in 1 Samuel 30. I want to have my eyes open to see who I can help. I do not want to be a wicked and worthless warrior. I want to give from the abundance God has given me.

What have you done with the abundance God has given you?

It is easy to spend it on ourselves. It is easy to think, "I need to hold on to as much as I can. I do not know... with this pandemic... my job... my family... what disaster will happen next?" Again I ask, where has God blessed you? Scripture gives us a direction. Especially if we are thinking that our future may not have much to hold. Rather than eating up what you have been given, Jesus says to plant it in someone else so you will reap a harvest.

Luke 6:38 (NKJV) Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

What have you done with the blessing God has given you?

When we seek God on how give to others it is like investing for our future. We give to others now, from the blessings we have been given by God, then later when we need God to move in our life or provide in some way He sends someone who looks to sow their seed. You sow into someone and then in your time of need someone else sows into you. According to Jesus, when we receive from what you have given and then someone else gives to us in our time of need it will be given to us running over. That is kingdom giving and receiving.

Father, I ask to see where you have blessed me this year. I can see and hear all that has gone wrong but through it all You have been with me. You have strengthen me. I pray for Your kingdom to come, Your will to be done here on earth. I thank you for the new vaccine that does not have harmful side effects. Thank you for President Trump insisting this vaccine be without tracking or chips. I am thankful You have made sure our bills have been paid, our health is better, and our children are safe. I thank you our kids have been able to remain in activities. Even with the vaccine I ask for the coronavirus to be removed. I ask for health to be restored to Your people. I pray for healing across our land and around our world. You are God and I know Your love reaches to the farthest parts of our world. I thank you for Your love that never fails. There are people out there praying for a miracle. I want to be that miracle. Show me who they are, what I can do, how I can give to plant my seed. I want to invest big this Christmas, as my Christmas prayer. I pray for You to open my eyes and ears to see the need and hear what to do. Come and speak to reveal to me what I can do for those in need in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.