1 Samuel 12:14

If you will fear the Lord (with awe and profound reverence) and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the Lord your God (and it will go well).

When we are willing and obedient to God’s word, our lives will go well. When we rebel against God’s commandments and become gods to ourselves, sin will enter our lives. God’s commandments are a protective cover. Sin will lead to a separation from God and His protective covering.

1 Samuel 8:18

Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day (because you have rejected Him as King). Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us.”

God wanted to be the king of the people and warned them of tyranny that would be involved with the Israelites having a human king. The Israelites thought they knew best for themselves and would not listen to the word of the Lord. In those moments when God speaks to us and we think we know best over God’s guidance, stop! Humble your heart and your thinking, and follow God’s direction. 

1 Samuel 5:4

But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had (again) fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and his head and both palms of his hands were (lying) cut off on the threshold; only the trunk (portion) of (the idol of) Dagon was left on him. 

The Philistines made the mistake of placing a false god next to the true God. People realize that there is something about the true God that they want, but they still want to keep their idols. For example, the two cannot exist together: God and my career, God and money, God and entertainment. God will not share His throne with idols. 

2 Peter 2:9

Then (in light of the fact that all this is true, be sure that) the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement.

God knows how to make a way for His people. Faith opens the door for God to intervene in our lives and sends help through that door. We cannot lose faith or hope in adversity because God will provide for our needs.  

1 John 4:5

They (who teach twisted doctrine) are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the (viewpoint of the) world (with its immoral freedom and baseless theories-demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright) and the (gullible one of the) world listens closely and pays attention to them. 

As Christians, we need to read our guidebook (the Bible) and renew our minds to what is true from God. The world constantly sends out distorted messages and partial truths to pull believers away from the faith. We need to keep our guard up to protect our families, our communities, and our nation. Jesus said we are to occupy until He returns.  

Jude 15:18-19

They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.” These are the ones who are causing divisions-worldly minded devoid of the Spirit. Bu you, beloved, build yourselves up on (the foundation of) your most holy faith (continually progress, rise like and edifice higher and higher) pray in the Holy Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit helps our spirit become stronger and keep our connection open to hear from God. No matter what the world says, does, or condones as right, we are to follow the commandments of the Bible. Even when the road gets rough, God will join forces with us and strengthen us as we go.  

James 5:7-8

So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts (keep them energized and firmly committed to God) because the coming of the Lord is near. 

We don’t know the day or the hour of the Lord’s coming, but we can know the season. We wait patiently because the Bible tells us the signs of Jesus’s return and to not lose heart until Jesus comes. James reminds us to keep ourselves fully committed to God until Jesus comes. 

Hebrews 10:8-9

After saying above, “You have neither desired, nor have You taken delight in sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings for sin” (which are offered according to the Law) then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” (And so) He does away with the first (covenant as a means of atoning for sin based on animal sacrifices) so that He may inaugurate and establish the second (covenant by means of obedience).

Sin is disobedience to God’s commands, and the sacrificial offering was not pleasing to God. Man’s heart had to change from choosing sin to choosing to be obedient to God. Jesus came to do God’s will and remove the barrier of sin through His sacrifice on the cross, bringing salvation. 

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom (to guide him through a decision or circumstance), he is to ask (our benevolent) God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. 

Recognize doubt when it tries to infiltrate the faith and kick it out. Go to the verses and repeat them until the dart of doubt from the devil is gone. God is faithful and honors His Word, and we must stand by the Word in faith until the answer comes.  

Romans 3:23-24

Since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified (declared free of the guilt of sin, and acceptable to God, and granted eternal life) as a gift by His (precious, underserved) grace, through the redemption (the payment for our sin) which is (provided) in Christ Jesus.  

We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but we are saved, redeemed, and washed clean of that sin by Jesus Christ. We don’t have to live our lives under condemnation, which, if allowed, would prevent us from developing our faith. We are to live our faith and pursue our right standing with God.