Much Greater Than We Can Imagine: Adjustments
Ephes. 3:20 (Msg)
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Romans 12:2 (Msg)
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
1 Samuel 9:2 (NIV)
… Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites--a head taller than any of the others.
1 Samuel 12:14, 24-25 (NLT)
"Now if you will fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord's commands, and if you and your king follow the Lord your God, then all will be well… But be sure to fear the Lord and sincerely worship him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. [25] But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be destroyed."
1 Samuel 14:47-48 (NLT)
Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel's throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious. [48] He did great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
1 Samuel 13:13 (NLT)
"How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the Lord your God. Had you obeyed, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
1 Samuel 15:10-11 (NLT)
Then the Lord said to Samuel, [11] "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has again refused to obey me." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night.
1 Samuel 15:17, 22-23 (NLT)
And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord has anointed you king of Israel…"What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. [23] Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you from being king."
Saul misunderstood God’s grace for God’s approval. He confused God’s patience with everything being okay.
1. Never tolerate bad habits today that will become hardened patterns tomorrow – especially those that do not bring out God’s best in us
Proverbs 6:10-11 (NLT)
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
2. Conversely, adjust to habits that brings out God’s best in us and keeps our hearts close to His, even if it difficult at first.
Faithfully maintaining our devotions with God helps us to fix our compass
Our devotions help point us back to the place of God’s design for our lives.
Hosea 4:6 (NIV)
…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
But what if we find the things of God uncomfortable?
Realize that we can shape and reshape the things that delight us.
So what happens when God shows us that our lives have gone off course?
Make immediate and small corrections along the way
3. Adjust accordingly to the principle of the fulcrum – in order to maintain our priorities in seasons of uncertainty.