Plan B

 "But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler of His people because you have not kept the Lord's command." I Samuel 13:14

These words were spoken to Israel's King Saul by the prophet Samuel in response to Saul's disobedience. He was told that the kingdom given him by the Lord was going to be taken from him and given to a man who had a heart that sought the heart of God. That man would be David, a man after God's own heart.

It was said of David that he sought God as a lifestyle, but that Saul was one who offered up 911 prayers. In emergencies, he sought God, but most of the time, he acted on his own impulses and desires. It was also said that when he met with a delay from God, he always had a "plan B." David had no plan but for total reliance upon his God. Saul not only had plan B's, but plan C,D,E and on. When it comes to our relationship with Him, who do we most resemble, David or Saul? Saul lost his kingdom. If we resemble him, what is it that we'll lose, and how great will be our loss?

I'm always moved by the accounts about the prayer lives of some of the great saints. To them, prayer was as natural as breath itself. They lived in the atmosphere of the Kingdom, and they "inhaled" and "exhaled" the very air of that Kingdom. Prayer for them was not an airing of a laundry list of needs and wants. It was the consequence of an intimacy with the Father, through His Holy Spirit, that kept them in constant and sweet connection and relationship with their God. This is what it is to be a man or a woman that is after the heart of God. It was the central trait of David, but it was never a characteristic of Saul's.

Sadly, and I speak this in loving concern, we have too few David's in the church today, and far too many Saul's. For many, a vital prayer life isn't present, and isn't much desired. I have been a part of various prayer groups throughout my ministry. Attendance is almost always small. From time to time, someone will show up with a pressing need and join the group. In the crisis, they're there, but when the crisis passes, so do they. I don't mean to speak in judgement, but who does that more closely resemble, David or Saul? Is prayer really a lifestyle, or is this just another form of the 911 prayer?

I have stated before, and I'll continue to state that I believe times are coming upon us where our casual approach not only to prayer, but to our relationship with Him will not be able to survive, if it was even a relationship to begin with. The realities of this fallen world will continue to press in on us, and our ability to face them will be shown to be more futile by the day. The prayers of the Saul's will be to no avail. To overcome the challenges will require we be a people after His own heart. By His grace, I want to be such a person. I want my church fellowship to be such a church. How about you? Or will you continue to dial 911, all the while holding on to your plan B?

Blessings,

Pastor O