The Helmet of Salvation

2 Samuel 8:6

"And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went."

Lamentations 3:22

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."

The Bible compares our salvation to a helmet in the book of Ephesians. When wearing a helmet, you have little to no sensation when struck in the head. Things that would normally cause a great deal of pain or discomfort bounce right off.

It is as if the Lord's mercy and compassion that He shows us in salvation is armor that nothing can penetrate. Our enemies may hurl arrows and spears, hack at us with sword and ax, but we remain untouched.

The fruit that is preserved in a canning jar remains unblemished, and whole only so long as it remains within the protection of the jar. Once it leaves that protection the decay and breakdown begins.

Have I donned my helmet of salvation today? Am I resting in Jesus' accomplished work in my life?

Thy Servant

2 Samuel 7:27-29

"For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever."

"Thy servant..." David used this phrase over and over. It is not a vain platitude that the "last shall be first" and that "he who would be greatest among you must be servant of all".

David didn't look at his role as God's servant as a demeaning or base role, but rather as an honor. It was his desire and goal to be the best servant he could be.

We too have been called to be servants, of God first and also of others. Blessings come to those who embrace this role in life and live, not to get, but to give. Not to be served, but to serve.

Who can I serve today? How will that show my love and service to God to the person I'm serving?

He Knows Me

2 Samuel 7:20

"And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant."

Can you wrap your mind around that? God knows you. There is nothing I can say, think or do that He has not foreseen. My deepest inner thoughts, my hidden passions and temptations, my true drive and motivation, all of it is plain as day to the One Who Sees.

It is not surprising that the One Who created me would know me inside and out, better than I know myself. What is surprising is that He would care to know me. How many people had God created since the beginning of time? Billion upon billion, and each He has know intimately, each He has desired to know Him. And out of all those people, He did not overlook me.

Who am I, oh Lord? That You, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Creator, Sustainer, God of everything, would stoop to know your creation?

Self Aware

2 Samuel 7:18-19

"Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?"

This is the perfect illustration of humility. "Who am I...?" David had an honest opinion of himself in light of Who God is. He saw himself as nothing but what God has made him.

And the humility is demonstrated fully by David's recognition of Who God really is and what He is capable of. "And this was but a small thing in Thy sight..." David marvels at what God has already done in his life, realizing what God has promised to do, realizing that God's power would accomplish it.

How do I see myself? How would I describe myself? How would I describe God? The "big" things in my life, are they not but small things in the sight of the Creator of the universe?

From the Sheepcote to a Throne

2 Samuel 7:8-9

"Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth."

We as humans forget so very easily. God has done more for each of us than we can possibly fathom, answered more unspoken prayers than we can count, and yet how quickly we assign our success to ourselves or another besides God.

Here God is reminding David where he came from and that it was God Who have him the victory. Humility only comes when we have a proper view of ourselves in light of a proper view of God. And humility is the only way to succeed. God will not, cannot be close to a person who holds pride in their heart

From where has He brought you out? To where is He bringing you? Are you humbly seeking God nothing but to serve Him with the life He has given you?

Mercies, New Everyday

2 Samuel 7:15

"But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee."

Imagine a life devoid of God's mercies. His mercy spares us daily from the Hell and judgment that we deserve. Without that, where would you be?

Lamentations 3:21-23

" This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

What an astounding blessing we have in the mercy of God! He is the Supreme Judge and had ever right to punish righteously, but His unfathomable love compels His matchless mercy.

How has God shown mercy to you today? Have you thanked Him? Take some time to revel in the mercy God has poured into your life.

Guard the Heart

2 Samuel 7:3

"And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee."

The heart is very important to God. He gives many commands regarding it, telling is to guard it with all diligence. We also know it can be deceitful and very wicked. When God is allowed into a life, He loves to take our old heart of some and give us a new hear in its place.

When we allow God to exchange our heart for a new one, we have new desires. The flesh remains, and we have a daily choice of which we will listen to- God, or our flesh.

When we consistently listen to God, delighting in Him, He promises to give us the desires of our heart. Our new heart has new desires that God longs to give us if we will only ask.

Am I listening to my flesh? Or to God? What is my delight and my resulting desire?