April 23, 2025 - 1 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭22

“For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.” 1 Samuel 12:22 ESV

Lord, your great love for your people is astounding. This verse declares that you will not forsake your people. But when we look at the stories of Israel that surround this passage, they definitely forsook you, again and again. They would turn from you and your ways and live for themselves until life got unbearable. Then they would call out to you, and you would rescue them. Then they might set their eyes back on you, but it would not last long before they would turn their backs on you again. We can look at Israel and see this pattern so clearly, but this pattern is found in our lives as well. How easy it is to get our eyes off you and put our own desire back in control again. Oh, Lord, forgive us. And we praise you for forgiving us again and again. You refuse to forsake us, even when we so desperately deserve it.  You are truly a remarkable God. Help us to keep you at the center of our focus. We want to live for you and not ourselves. We want to see your name glorified through every aspect of our lives. Thank you for the way you pursue us when we drift or even run from you and your ways. Keep drawing us back to you. Transform our hearts so that we desire you more than anything else. You are so worthy of all our hearts. We praise you that it pleases you to make us your people. You are so amazing. All praise to your name.

In Jesus name, amen.