1 Samuel 26:13–17

Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?”

Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”

So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?”

David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”

Once again, David does the nutzo thing and reveals himself to his pursuers—this time revealing to all that he has Saul’s spear and water jug.

And, once again, it works. Saul refers to him as “my son David.”

David’s faith has grown to the point where he is counting on the LORD’s favor. That can be wrong, even dangerously arrogant, but in this case it isn’t.

The sequence of events has grown David’s faith.

Have you ever felt encouraged in a desperate prayer? I have. When things felt the bleakest, and prayer was my sole recourse, sometimes it just seemed to click.

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” — Abraham Lincoln

These occasions have often left me embarrassed for my lack of faith. That is not to say that God’s response always matched my expectations. He has a way of doing things His way, not mine, and also very much in His timing.

But a pattern has emerged over the years that has changed me. I can see what I like to call “the footprints of an unseen hand.” Prayer makes a difference you can see.

But if you’re looking for a God who is your personal go-fer, you won’t see anything. That’s not how it works. God knows what He’s doing and we don’t. His response to prayer is boundlessly creative.

Pray like you’re talking to your Lord, not your servant, and you’ll get eye-opening action.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.