This is my first step forward.

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 16:23 KJV

Saul was then sent the evil spirit. But when David came into his life, played his harp, it went away from Him. Saul searched for a person that can help him take away the evil spirit upon him and found a person favored by God.

Oftentimes we fail to obey God, sinned against Him and suffer its consequences. Part of Romans 6:23 says for the wages of sin is death and this is what happened to Saul. The sin he had done brought the evil spirit unto him. Most of us sin against God and suffer from it until death comes. What Saul did is to seek help and reachout to God's favor. Matthew 6:33 says seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. And Saul was cleansed and healed by doing so. God provided these to Saul through David.

I've sinned so much before and the enemy almost got me. I was emotionally and spiritually dead. I asked God for His healing at that moment but most of the time I neglected His instruments including my sister. But that doesn't stop God, because I asked for healing, because He knew I was broken. And a David came to my life who brought me closer to God, my friend Philip.

Although we have sinned against God and suffered from it we should continuously seek Him, repent and be open, for He will answer us and provide us the cleansing and healing that we need to restart our lives. He will send that one David to make sure He gives us provision and take away the evil spirit in us that causes us to sin and suffer. And if some Saul comes in to our lives, be that David that God provides!

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22 KJV

Even though Saul gave the best offering to the Lord it did not matter. For what matters to the Lord is his obedience.

A small act of disobedience is still disobedience and it could not be repaid or replaced by anything.

In a relationship, with our parents, when we obey them, it brings them honor, appreciation and love. Their authority is also acknowledged and that it brings them delight of feeling valuable knowing that they are important to us. Because obeying or following them is leaning towards our own good, as parents thwy don't want us to be harmed by our own actions because they already know what would happen in those situations that they had gone through. If we disobey our parents it is a sign of dishonor and disrespect that no material thing can replace. It's as if the damage has been done and there is no turning back. No gift can satisfy.

Same with our relationship with God. What He only wants is everything good for us because He loves us so. Obedience to Him is so important because it qualifies us to honor Him and acknowledge Him as our authority. It's a way of giving back to Him on what He has done for us. If we sacrifice things for Him then that is also a sign of love but if we use these to compensate our disobedience then it is all nonsense.

I pray to God to have absolute obedience. It is difficult because of the adjustments and unknowns ahead. But faith is there. If letting Him drive my life bring Him Joy and pleases Him then I will obey to show my love and appreciation for all the things He has done.

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.  Only fear the Lord , and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Samuel 12:22‭, ‬24 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1sa.12.22-24.KJV

Our God is for us. He will not do us harm. He created us and so he delighted in us. He reminds us these and how He did small and great things for us. But He asks only for us to fear Him and serve Him with all our hearts.

Serving Him is my purpose. Jesus once said that if we follow Him it will not be easy and it will be full of suffering. But I still choose to serve with all of my heart. It is not only I who needs help, love and blessings. But the people around me as well. Though my body becomes weak at times, adversaries come and go, and temptations are all over my surroundings and even in my head, I will do what is righteous and bring God's miracle to everyone, to whom He had entrusted to me.

I will not stop until I served my purpose on earth because of the fear I have in Him - the fear out of love, the fear of making Him sad, the fear of making Him mad at me. He is my father and I don't want Him to feel these. I am glad and joyful that I live now for the Kingdom of God and not of this world. I aim for eternity and not for temporal. And even though I face all these things, I know I can conquer them all because He is with me. He blesses me and gives me favor even the smallest so how can I not do His will for me?

God bless us all and may everyone find this devotion as inspiration to keep on serving the Lord

But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord , but rebel against the commandment of the Lord , then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
1 Samuel 12:15 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1sa.12.15.KJV

God was not accepted as the King at that time. They worshipped man-made gods. And because worshipping these gods is a sin, Israel was defeated by their enemies. They recognized their mistakes and promised to serve if God will deliver those enemies unto their hands. And God did as they say but still they asked for another thing from Him, to give them a king. And God did as they say once again and appointed Saul to be their King.

The Lord reminded them of obedience to the one He had appointed. Israel asked and God gave it to them. One condition for it was obedience.

Often we ask God for what we want - our dreams, plans and needs. But we stay disobedient and end up disappointed. We experience failure. But it is the consequence of our actions that we are reaping just like the numerous defeats of Israel because they chose to disobey. When we ask Him for our heart's desire He also asks us for our faithfulness so we will obey His commands and instructions. God wants what is the best for us so following and obeying His commands will not lead us to failure or anything negative, but it will lead us to our answered prayers.

And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
1 Samuel 9:21 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1sa.9.21.KJV

Saul looked upon himself and his family lowly and considered themselves with no worth. He was confused why Samuel spoke to him as if he and his family was of great importance. He di not know that God had chosen him to be king.

How Saul was at these times was also how we were even once in our lives. We are given opportunities that we may seem not for us. We look upon ourselves lowly and with no worth. We often think that we are not deserving for such blessings that come our way. But God knows who we are and what we are capable of. God appoints us to something we think we are not worthy of but the truth is we are meant to be there.

My life is a rollercoaster. A lot of things come in my way especially at work. There are opportunities for growth. My manager once asked me if I could apply for a managerial position. But I did not take it. I believe I am not worthy of the position yet because I still lack a lot of things I suppose. I trust that I cannot handle being a manager without understanding the role and experiencing leadership face to face. Bottomline, I was afraid. I am not confident with what I can do and offer for the role. I'm afraid to fail.

But God is confident in me. This kind of opportunity that He is giving me is not an accident. He believes that I am worthy for the position that is why it is being offered to me. But I missed the chance. But even so, I will strive hard to learn more about this role while I do my best in being the light in my company. I believe that God will open another opportunity in my life that I wouldn't have to miss again for that next time will be different. I believe so that is why I encountered this verse. This verse is now my equipment when that day comes.