Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

Read

2 Samuel 7:18-29 (NRSV)

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness, so that your servant may know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people, and to make a name for himself, doing great and awesome things for them, by driving out before his people nations and their gods? And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, O LORD, became their God. And now, O LORD God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel’; and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Reflect

At lunch the other day, a friend and I were talking about students entering high school having to choose a career path. I hadn’t a clue about what I wanted to do with my life at the age of 13, and I imagine that most students today don’t either. I took home economics classes as well as science, math, business, and other courses, all of which have served me well. Only in college did my ability to write and edit become especially evident.

Now I can look back and see that God had been preparing me for a career in writing, editing, and proofreading for a long time. An eighth grade teacher told me that I wrote well and should consider writing as a career. While a freshman in college, an English professor took the time to tell me that I wrote well and that she would like to talk with me about switching majors. I would often return to my dorm room to find friends’ papers that they wanted me to proofread.

David had probably expected to spend his life taking care of the sheep, much like the others in his family, but God had other plans. I am thankful that God has allowed me to use my gift in service to God.

Pray

God, we often don’t understand your ways, but help us to trust the path you place before us. Help each of us to find ways to use our gifts in service to you. Amen.

Go with God.