WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:00.800 Well, good morning. 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:03.839 We are studying our way through 1 Samuel. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:09.039 Last week we looked at the shepherd boy, David, as he defeated the giant Goliath. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:12.320 And today we're going to look at David's rise to success. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.119 What happens just after he defeats this Goliath? 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:19.679 And David's story tells us something about our story. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:21.120 So we can look at David's story. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:22.559 Let's look at it very quickly. 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:27.760 We see that David has a season of being ordinary and unknown when he's a shepherd boy. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:33.600 He has this season that we're going to look at last week and this week: opportunity and success as he defeats Goliath. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:35.200 He has military successes. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:36.479 He becomes king. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:41.759 But then we all know of his failure and his guilt and his moral failure with Bathsheba. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:49.759 And then there's that last season that we see with David that is restoration and reflection as he seeks out grace and forgiveness. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:52.799 And we have that beautiful Psalm 51 that he writes. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:01:03.920 And I'm guessing, just a hunch, that I'm guessing you are somewhat like David, that you are like me, and that you know what it feels like to be ordinary, to be unknown. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:07.760 Maybe you know what it feels like to have some opportunity and success. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:13.920 I'm guessing that you know what it feels like to have failure and to feel guilty. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.959 And that we all need restoration and reflection. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:21.920 So, how do we navigate life as it's a mix of good and bad? 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.040 You get the job, but it's in Cleveland. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:26.799 I don't want to live in Cleveland. 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:30.319 You get the girl, but she ends up not being perfect. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:31.439 Can you imagine? 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.560 You get the kids, but then they're kind of morons. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:42.319 You get the house, or you get the car, or you get the raise, and it just doesn't fulfill. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.640 How do we navigate life as it's a mix of good and bad? 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:57.840 In chapter 18, David gets a new BFF with Saul's son Jonathan, and David rises in popularity after this Goliath, where he uses that slingshot to take Goliath down. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:07.760 He starts to have some military victories, and we see King Saul move from celebration to suspicion to hostility. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.360 Look what happens right after David slays Goliath. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:13.039 1 Samuel 18, 6 through 9. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:26.319 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with songs of joy, with musical instruments. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:34.639 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:36.639 And Saul was very angry. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:38.639 And this saying displeased him. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:43.919 And he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they've ascribed thousands. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:46.560 And what more can he have but the kingdom? 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:49.520 And Saul eyed David from that day on. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:53.120 Point number one is this, and this is what we're going to see play out with David. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:56.240 Our foundation is true favor. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:59.680 True favor is God's presence with us. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:01.919 That God is present with us. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:07.039 This story is not framed by David's rising talent. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:12.240 The story is framed by divine favor, by God's presence. 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:16.319 Now, of course, David slayed the giant with that slingshot. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:26.159 He had skill that he had built over time, but the ability for the skill, the season for the skill to form, came from God. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:34.400 To explain each victory, what's written is a simple phrase: the Lord was with David. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:36.639 The Lord was with David. 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:38.879 The Lord was with David. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:42.560 A few weeks ago we went and saw the movie Project Hail Mary. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:44.400 Have you seen anybody else fall in love with Rocky? 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:45.680 Is anybody else in love with Rocky? 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:47.520 In love with Rocky the Alien? 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:49.280 If you see it, you'll know what I'm talking about. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:54.479 So we began after that a journey of let's watch space movies. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:56.800 So last week we watched The Martian. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:01.680 And the Martian follows astronaut Mark Watney, who accidentally gets left behind on Mars. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:02.639 Just a little mistake. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:13.599 He gets left behind on Mars, and he has to figure out how to survive, how to live, how to farm, how to create water, how to create food, how to create communication back to Earth. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:21.279 For 549 days, this guy waits to be rescued. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:28.639 And then the ship returns to him, but they don't have enough fuel to land, of course, so they can only fly by and catch him. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.319 Work with us here. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:40.480 So Mark is blasted into space and then launches himself over to his friends who are going to catch him. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:51.920 And this is the moment when, after 549 days of being alone with no one, this is the moment when he's finally safe. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.720 He's finally with someone who loves him. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:56.480 Let's watch two minutes of this. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:02.240 So I'm still not sure why they didn't build a net, but yeah, that's a separate issue. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:05.279 Just before this scene, Mark is weeping. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:08.639 It was the first time we saw him cry the whole movie. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:17.279 Because after 549 days of being alone, being brave, he realizes he's finally going to be safe. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:21.680 He'll finally be with someone who loves him. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.240 Someone who is with him. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:26.959 It's powerful to know that you're not alone. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.759 It's powerful to know that you are loved. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:35.439 And this phrase over and over again is the defining explanation of these stories. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.120 The Lord was with David. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:43.360 Jesus actually promises to be with us. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:50.000 See, David knows he was not alone and he was loved by God, and we can know the same thing. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:54.800 And because of that, we, like David, don't have to be afraid. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:58.000 Jesus actually says, do not be afraid seven times. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:00.560 He says it to the disciples when they're afraid of a storm. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.000 He says it to Peter when he's overwhelmed by a failure. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:07.120 He says it to Jairus when Jairus' daughter dies. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:10.480 He says it to the disciples when they need to learn trust. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.240 Do not be afraid. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:13.360 You don't have to be afraid. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.319 I'm with you. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:24.720 My mentor Scotty Smith says this it's stunning, liberating, and timely to know the most repeated command throughout the whole Bible is do not be afraid. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:30.879 We know God will never leave or forsake us, and we know we are secure in the palm of his hand. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:38.079 Free us more fully from our fears, that we might live more fully to the praise of his glorious grace. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.040 Here's how John makes sense of this in the New Testament. 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.000 1 John 4, 7 and 8, also verse 19. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.839 Beloved, that's us, you are loved. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.079 Beloved, let us love one another. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:49.680 For love is from God. 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:53.199 And whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.319 Anyone who does not love, does not know God. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:58.240 Because God is love. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:06.160 Verse 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:11.279 For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.600 We love because he first loved us. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:23.600 So Jesus, God for us to know, is loving us before we ever loved him or thought about loving him. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:29.680 And that's the very truth that we get to rest in as to help our fear. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:36.160 Now, in 1 Samuel 19, Saul tries to murder David and Jonathan and Mikhail. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.639 They save David, 1 Samuel 21. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.199 David flees for his life. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.040 He escapes by pretending he's a saint. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:51.600 Chapter 22, David gathers together a crew of people, a band of outcasts, and Saul becomes even more unhinged in pursuing David. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:54.480 And Saul even orders for priests to be massacred. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:58.560 We jump back in, 1 Samuel 23, 1 through 5. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:05.839 Now they told David, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and robbing the threshold floors. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:10.959 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, Shall I go and attack these Philistines? 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:14.800 And the Lord said to David, Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah. 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:19.439 But David's men said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.959 How much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:25.839 Then David inquired of the Lord again. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:30.480 The Lord answered him, Arise, go to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:36.960 And David and his men went to Kelah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:39.519 So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:45.440 Point number two is this we love a strategy, but we need the Lord's direction. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:48.720 We need the Lord's direction in our strategies. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:55.919 A few years ago, I began attending a leadership retreat every fall called Refuge Out West. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.360 It's a fly fishing leadership retreat, right? 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:01.039 Like, oh, do I have to go? 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:04.799 The ministry actually provides fishing guides each day. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:10.559 So the first day, the first time I went, the first day, I head out, I'm fishing with a pastor from Missouri. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.799 And me and this other pastor, we've both fished before. 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:17.440 We have this guide, and very quickly on, we figure out this guide's a rookie. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:21.440 He does not know this river well, he doesn't really know fishing all that well. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:25.200 And I fish my tail off that day. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.000 Laser focused all day. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:29.360 Three fish. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.120 That's not good, by the way. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:32.080 Three fish. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.360 Wasn't happy. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:36.799 The next day, my guide's name was Beans. 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:40.159 Here's a picture of Beans with us on the river. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:43.840 Beans was young, but it was the second year guiding. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:47.279 He'd been on this river for an entire year, and Beans was fishy. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:54.480 He knew fish, he knew this river, he was into it, he knew where to put the boat and where to have us cast. 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:57.440 And I caught 22 fish. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.440 Three fish to 22 fish, the same exact river. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.000 And the difference was the guide. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:10.639 Beans knew how to direct us, where to put us in the best position to fish. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:16.399 That's what a guide does, gives you direction for the next step. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:21.360 Did you catch the phrase twice in that passage, verse 2 and verse 4? 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:24.720 Then David inquired of the Lord. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:28.480 David's fleeing for his life. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.799 I'm sure he has a strategy. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:39.519 I'm sure he's using as much wisdom as he had, and he's saying, God, would you speak to my spirit in my strategy? 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:44.639 David asked God to help him discern the next best step. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:48.639 We invite God into our decision making. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.559 It's not super spiritual and apart from wisdom or apart from strategy. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:58.799 It's inside of our wisdom and strategy, and we're praying, God, speak to my spirit through your spirit. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.480 Give me discernment. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.440 Guide my steps. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.960 Maybe I don't know the whole path. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:06.639 Most likely you won't, but help me with the next step. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:15.120 In 1 Samuel 24, and in Geti, Saul takes 3,000 men to chase down David. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:18.320 1 Samuel 24, verse 3. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.399 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way where there was a cave. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:26.240 So David did, and Saul went in to relieve himself. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.080 So that, anyways. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:33.120 Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:42.960 And the men of David said to him, Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:43.519 Right? 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.960 I mean, just go kill him. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:46.480 Like let's be done with this. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:55.279 Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe, and afterwards David's heart struck him. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.440 We say his conscious uh his spirit. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:02.159 He wasn't comfortable with what he did. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:05.600 Because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:14.879 He said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my Lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he's the Lord's anointed. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:20.080 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.679 And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.519 I'm kind of reading that. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:30.399 I'm like, man, that feels pretty convenient to solve the problem. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:35.519 A guy who's been pursuing you to kill you, you can solve a lot of problems right here. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.799 And David said, no, that's that's it's not right. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:46.639 Point number three is this faith does what's right and loving even when it is not convenient. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.200 This cave was the perfect moment. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:55.600 David can he can work his way to be king in this moment, but David doesn't want to become king like this. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.080 David teaches us to be patient, to take an honorable road. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:10.960 So we don't lie, steal, cheat, or backstab or turn on a friend to get a job or a better job or to get a romance. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.480 If we have to wait, we wait. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.000 We choose honor. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:21.120 David teaches us to choose honor, do what's right and loving, not the shortcut. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.879 Now, all of that's great. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:25.279 David gives us incredible lessons, doesn't he? 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.759 Like seek God's guidance, you know, be honorable. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.879 These are incredible lessons. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.519 They're really good. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.720 We need these lessons. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:36.159 The problem is we and David are not always honorable. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.960 We don't always seek God's guidance. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:43.279 I mean, at times we can be controlling, be manipulative, we can be selfish. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.000 So we need more than lessons. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.639 See, we need to be loved. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.519 That's why we need one more point. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.159 Point number four. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:54.720 David points us to our need of Jesus. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:14:00.240 There are two main genealogies of Jesus in the Bible, Matthew 1 and Luke 3. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:06.559 In Matthew 1, there's 28 generational references, which is the kingship line. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:13.039 And Luke 3, there's 42 generational references, which is the biological line. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:19.600 They don't cite every generation, but the point is made. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:25.759 And the point is that through sinners and rascals, Jesus pursues us in love. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:31.679 While we are not perfect, while we can't quite get our acts fully together. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:37.519 This God, known as Jesus, is not the divine policeman waiting to catch you or zap you. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:44.480 The New Testament says if you want to think about God, picture a loving, perfect Heavenly Father. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.919 Picture an Abba. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.279 That's the picture you should get in your mind. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.960 Where Adam and David and us fail, we have a loving God. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:57.919 We may not be righteous, but he is. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.519 And he loves us. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:05.360 That's what the cross is about, that our imperfections and mess-ups are imputed. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:07.919 God takes them, says, I'll forgive you. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:11.440 And he imputes to us, he gives over to us righteous standing. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:14.080 Not because of our resume, but because of Jesus. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.240 That's what the grace of God is. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.600 I will love you while you do not have the resume. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.360 I'll just give it to you. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:23.360 That's the grace of God. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:31.519 In the late 1800s, French artist Gustave Dore produced engravings, wood engravings of 1 Samuel. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.960 Here's a picture of Dore. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:36.000 He's a French artist looking incredibly artistic. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.000 Scarf, perfect, couldn't make that up. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:44.399 Dore created 241 wood engravings of the entire Bible. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.759 It was incredibly popular. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.919 He had a huge show in London. 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:51.679 Here is his engraving of one of David's many escapes. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.440 This is from 1 Samuel 19. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:55.919 If we just keep that up there while I talk about it. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:16:02.639 Dorr used light versus shadow to symbolize divine providence over human chaos. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:14.559 And David's need to escape becomes about the pressure of the world that we feel, where we constantly feel like we need to escape. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:18.879 Have you ever felt like you need to find a window and escape? 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:22.000 If you have kids, it's mayhem. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.480 Every kid has eight award banquets. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:27.919 Do you know how many times my dad stepped foot into my elementary school? 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.960 Didn't happen. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:32.320 Never saw a dad in my elementary school in six years at Bethesda Elementary. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.240 Never saw a dad at all. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.240 I don't think we had award banquets. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.840 It was the 80s. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:42.799 You all have eight award banquets for every child. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:48.159 We all have extra events if we have kids, and maybe you feel like you just want a window. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.600 Get out of there. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:52.639 Or maybe you've wanted to escape yourself. 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:59.120 Maybe you've wanted to escape your guilt or your shame, your job or your lack of job. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:02.480 Have you ever felt like you were barely hanging on? 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:09.119 And the art in the story tells us that we may feel small. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:10.799 We may feel alone. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:14.079 But we're not really small and we're not alone. 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:19.920 Do you remember when Christ comes to earth, the Christmas story? 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:21.519 Do you remember the name? 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.200 You will know him. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:26.640 His name will be Emmanuel. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.559 The Lord was with David. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.599 The Lord was with David. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.359 The Lord is with you. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:42.079 God's very Spirit, his presence resides in us as the presence of God, but the Holy Spirit. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.519 We have a God who's with us, loves us, and guides us. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.000 If you have any questions about this sermon, I'll be down front afterward. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:50.559 Love to talk to you, pray with you if you have any needs. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.920 Let's pray together. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:58.160 Heavenly Father, we're so thankful that you don't look at our resume to decide whether you love us or not. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:02.000 Forgive us for all the ways we perform and pretend. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:10.400 Help us to be even more honest about who we are, our need of love, our need of grace. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:20.319 Lord, thank you for the gift of Jesus for us to know what you're like, who you are, to know the very forgiveness of God. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:31.440 Thank you for all the mess-ups that you've taken from us and that you don't penalize us, you don't zap us, but you're a loving Abba who waits to love us. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:36.000 Help us trust all the more in Jesus to know Him, to know you. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:40.559 Help us to seek you for guidance that we might know our next step. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.960 Would your very spirit speak to our spirit? 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.240 In Jesus' name. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:44.960 Amen.