2ND AUGUST
1 Samuel 16:18
“One of the young men answered, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilful in playing, a man of valour, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.’”
Have you ever tried to learn to play an instrument? If you have, you will know that it takes hard work, hours and hours of practice, discipline and determination to become good at it.
King Saul asks for a skilful player to come in his house and comfort him with music. He doesn’t want someone who is average, he wants someone who is good at playing music. That means somebody who didn’t quit when it got hard. That means somebody who practised when it wasn’t fun and kept at it till they were good—somebody who was determined and would not be turned aside by trivial pursuits.
When David was called into the service of the king, he was prepared. David had no dreams to be king. That was God’s idea. David’s five-year plan wasn’t to play music for Saul. That was Saul’s idea. David was just out there on the hillside, watching sheep, strumming away and praising God. All David did was prepare. It was God who presented David with the opportunity to play for Saul. It was God who called David to be the king of Israel.
Are you a musician? Are you a writer? Are you a painter? Ask God to use your skills for his glory. Walk through the doors he opens for you. Who knows how God will use your songs, your books, your painting to speak to people and make himself known to them.
MAKE IT PERSONAL:
Take some time to think about one skill that God has placed in your hands. How are you planning to develop your gift this year?