Each Friday, I like to share some thoughts, learnings, and reflections from my quiet times during the week. I hope they’re encouraging and helpful!

Be blessed this week,

Pastor Hugh

Even a man after God’s own heart can be caught up in pragmatic lying.

“Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him, ‘Why are you alone, and no one with you?’  And David said to Ahimelech the priest, ‘The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.’” 1 Samuel 21:1-2

The true binder of any relationship is the love of Jesus.

“And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.” 1 Samuel 20:23

The Lord always has a way of escape from my enemies planned for me.

“a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.’  So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines.  Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.” 1 Samuel 23:27-28

Though I might try, there is no justification of my flesh.

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8

My flesh does not naturally love God nor does it naturally love others. It does not even want to.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

The blessings of the LORD are rooted in His character and Word.

“Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it” 2 Samuel 7:21

My idleness opens the door to temptation.

“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.   It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.” 1 Samuel 11:1-2

*All Scripture from the English Standard Version Bible.