2 Samuel 1:11–12; 2:1

Are you ready to step into God’s great unknown and trust Him with the results? Great! But before you jump, be sure of four things:

Be sure it’s the Lord who is speaking.

Be sure the decision doesn’t contradict Scripture.

Be sure your motive is unselfish and pure.

Be sure the “leap” won’t injure others or your testimony.

Not long after Saul’s death, David, the beleaguered shepherd king, suddenly found himself at the helm of Israel’s vast kingdom. Finally, in his rightful place, David could have taken matters into his own hands. Most leaders would have charged into position, like a bull in a jewelry store, upsetting the status quo. Not David. Instead, he did something remarkable:

David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD’s army and the nation of Israel because they had died by the sword that day ... After this [Saul’s death], David asked the LORD, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”

“Yes,” the LORD replied.

Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”

“To Hebron,” the LORD answered (2 Samuel 1:11–12; 2:1).

Isn’t that refreshing? Powerful, freshly acknowledged, and anointed King David humbled himself before the Lord and sought specific direction on making his next move.

Though God desires we step out in faith and follow Him, not knowing all the details, He invites us to seek Him—to search His Word and receive His instructive wisdom. Do you need specific direction today? Follow the example of a man after God’s own heart. Go ahead, ask Him. He has a long track record of answering when we call.

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Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord ... Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright ©2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.