1 Samuel 11:11-13

“And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. Then the people said to Samuel, "Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, that we may put them to death." But Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel."”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭11:11-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬


God gives us victory over the enemy every day. There is nothing that we acheive spiritually that doesn't come from Him. Without Him, there is no true victory, therefore the victory is always His. Something that has been pretty humbling to learn, that I still haven't really learned entirely, is knowing when you are given victory from the Lord, and afterwards remaining humble and not trying to boast about your accomplishment, but the Lord’s accomplishment in your life. For instance, here Saul has given his countrymen a great victory right before he is anointed as king. Many of his people, after seeing the great victory he has given them, are seeking to find those who doubted Saul before this battle. "Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?’” They were seeking revenge on those who opposed Saul and his ability to act. How often are we irritated and hurt by those who doubt our ability to perform a tas? And then when we succeed in completing the task who get the old “I told you so” attitude and perhaps even form up a bit of resentment towards those who doubted us? In this story though, Saul remained humble in realizing that this was the Lord’s day, and that it was God that gave him this victory. 1 Samuel‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.” It was God that urged Saul into ‭action, and after Saul’s victory, he was able to remind himself who it was the called him to fight, and that his pride didn't need to be blown up for what the Lord did for him. Sometimes in life's victories we won't always be the ones to puff up our egos. We can remain humble at first in knowing that God was with us the whole time. However, sometimes our “people” will attempt to puff us up, and we must be disciplined enough to know that we are just tools that the Lord uses to accomplish His purposes, not the other way around. Tonight I'm going to pray and thank God for the victories that He’s given me today, that without Him I wouldn't be able to accomplish these tasks, and that one day I may be able to tell others about our Father’s victories during this time in my life.

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