Peer Pressure

Day two hundred thirty-four

Today my prayer is filled with the hope that I will have opportunities to learn more about my Father in Heaven and my Savior.  I hope that I will be filled with the Spirit and can make a difference in the lives of those around me.  I hope that I will leave all those I meet today in a better mood than when they came. Wow, I am pretty hopeful today!   

1 Samuel 8
This chapter starts off with some not so happy information, Samuel's sons who have been made judges over Israel are not living up to the job.  This isn't the first time that Israel has struggled with leaders that aren't righteous, remember Eli's sons in the chapters previous to this? 

There is a problem here and the Israelites are sick of it and want some change! (vv 4-5).  I don't blame the Israelites for wanting a change in the way things are done, their current system doesn't seem to be providing them with the leadership they need. But I do have a problem with their plan for change.  They come to Samuel and tell him what is going on and tell him to "make us a king to judge us like all the nations" (v 5).  Wait, they want to be like everyone else, even though the Lord has told them that the "Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself" (Deut. 14:2)? The problem with their request is that in requesting a king, they are rejecting Samuel and the Lord.

Samuel being the good man he is tries to warn them about the dangers of such a system (vv 11-18), but the scriptures tell us that the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel and reiterated that they wanted a king so that they could be like all the nations (vv 19-20).

Why would they do such a thing? Two words sum it up: Peer Pressure.  This is a great chapter to see peer pressure at work from different angles; Samuel's sons, Samuel, and the Israelites.

Samuel's Sons
What would make Samuel's sons turn aside after lucre and take bribes and pervert judgment?  They have this amazing man as their father and example, what could possibly change their hearts to turn from what he has taught them?

Peer pressure is defined as "Social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted."    Every person wants to be loved and accepted.  There is a natural desire for approval, affection and good will of our friends.  And like many things in life there are two sides to peer pressure, a good side, where one is influenced by righteousness, and a bad side, in which we let evil influence us.

The problem with the negative peer pressure is that it rarely only affects one person.  Our actions can cause trouble for others.  Samuel's sons choices made an entire people turn from God and his prophet.  It is no wonder that God has given us so many scriptures regarding peer pressure:
Exodus 23:2 - Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil ...
Proverbs 1:10-15 - My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not ...
Proverbs 4:14-15 - Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
1 Cor 15:33-34 - Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners...
Psalms 1:1-2 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful...

This is just a few of the Lord's words regarding this subject.  It should say something about the dangers of peer pressure that the Lord has given this topic such attention.
  

Samuel

Whereas Samuel's sons seem to have fallen into the trap of peer pressure, Samuel stands as an example of how we should react to peer pressure.  When the elders of Israel gathered and came to Samuel with their demand for a king, the scriptures tell us that Samuel was displeased with it.  Have you ever experinced that feeling of "this is not a good thing"?  There are many times in my life where I felt that sinking feeling in my stomach and the little voice in my head has said,"This is not a good idea!  Walk away!  Run away!!"  Unfortunately, I have not always listened to that voice.

Unlike me, Samuel does recognize this feeling and he takes it to the Lord in prayer. He seeks heavenly approval rather than earthly! The Lord advises Samuel to protest solemnly.  He is to warn the people of what this decision will bring upon them, but he is to let them use their agency in making the decision. 

I cannot imagine having to stand before these people and tell them that what they want is wrong and will only lead to heartache, knowing that they really don't want to hear it.  It is hard enough to have to say it to one friend, let alone a huge group of people.  Samuel is a great example of what is meant in Joshua 24:14-15.

The Israelites

Believing in God comes with a price, we are different.  We are expected to show courage under pressure.  We are not to compromise our moral standards.  We are to love our enemies, and we are told that to be ridiculed for our beliefs should be counted as an honor. 

Every Christian will have to make a choice to be popular and accepted by men, or to be right with God. In the case of the Israelites, they are more worried about being like the other nations than they are about being right before God.  I can understand how they feel, there have been times in my life when I wanted to fit in rather than be different.  It is easy to get caught up in the group mentality.  You feel like you have support from real people, not a God that you can't see. There is a sense of belonging that comes from being involved in a group of people.  It seems so real and comforting at the time, but it really is a false sense of security.  

The Israelites had made up their minds way before they ever came to Samuel.  They were so caught up in their false sense of security that they didn't even care about the warning from Samuel.  How many of us have been in that situation?  I think every teenager has been guilty of thinking they know best and not listening to a parents warnings.  We aren't so different from the Israelites.

The Israelites are about to learn some hard lessons which result from this decision.  Like the hard lessons in my life, they will be painful, but necessary.  They have to be taught that they need to shift their desire for approval from earth to heaven.  A good lesson for all of us!

Conquering Enemies

Day two hundred thirty-three

I woke up to the song Hero by Abandon this morning.  It is one of my favorite songs about Christ.  I love it because it is so simple, yet so powerful.  As I listened this morning and thought about Christ, I had this thought pop into my mind, "I need to be a hero too."  I don't need to atone for everyone's sins, but I can help the sick or help calm the storms in someone's life.  I can be the person that listens when no one else will.  I can be an example of Christ's love for someone when they feel alone.  I might even be able to share some thoughts that touch someones heart today.  My prayer this morning includes a request that the Lord would be with me today so that I might be the hero He needs me to be in the lives of others.  May I show His power in simple ways today!

1 Samuel 7

As I read chapter 7 this morning I kept coming back to two verses (3 and 4).  These verses talk about conquering your enemies.  In the Israelites case it was the Philistines, but we also face enemies in our own lives.  Things like bad habits, depression, pride, idol worship (glorifying objects), etc.  These are all things that pull us away from God and therefore are our enemy.  They need to be conquered too.

Samuel, directed by the Lord, gives the Israelites a simple plan to help "deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines."  Will this plan work for our enemies too?  Let's take a look:

Turn Unto the Lord With All Your Hearts (v 3)
What exactly does it mean to turn your heart to the Lord?  It means to turn from your sins, earnestly, with all your heart, and trust in the Lord.  It sounds like Samuel is calling the Israelites to repentance.  They needed to recognize that they had a problem and then turn to the Lord to help them through it.  The simple statement is: Turn to the Lord and He will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines.

Does that work for us too?  Turn to the Lord and He will deliver you out of the hands of whatever bad habit you need to get rid of. Or pride. Or idol worship.  Sounds like the statement is true for us too!

Put Away Your Strange Gods (v3) 
The Israelites were having problems staying focused on a God that they could not see.  So they tended to drift towards idol worship with its statues and such.  These were tangible things that they could see and touch and that made them feel better about religion. 

Faith is hard.  Trusting someone that you haven't met (or remember being around) is not easy.  It is so much easier to attach feelings with something or someone you can actually see and touch.  We all have things in our lives that we turn to that bring us comfort.  When we are young children it might be a blanket, a pacifier, or a stuffed animal that we want when we need comforting.  We can hold these things and somehow it makes it all better.  As we get older we are asked to give these things up and to turn to more age appropriate things to comfort us. 

In religious settings it is taught to turn to the Lord for this comfort.  This is a big leap from something you can hold to something that you have to believe is there, but you can't see it or touch it.  Because this is such a large leap not everyone makes it easily.  Some people will turn to other things like possessions, drugs, sex, and alcohol to comfort them.  If Samuel were talking to us today, these are some of the things he would be asking us to give up.

Prepare Your Hearts Unto the Lord (v 3)
Relatively few people are determined to do evil. They don't wake up in the morning seeking ways to transgress. Rather, they fall into sin because they have not prepared their hearts to seek the Lord. 

The word "prepare" means "to establish, fix, prepare, or apply." It conveys the idea of deliberate effort over a prolonged period of time. The same Hebrew word that was translated "prepare" here was also translated "fixed" four times in the Old Testament.  We need to keep our focus on God, we need to "fix" our hearts on the things of the Lord.

Here's the hard part, no one can accomplish preparing their heart on their own. This is not a matter of sheer "will power." God must be involved in preparing our hearts. Psalm 10:17 says, "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart." Only when we trust in the Lord and depend on Him can we find the strength to make our hearts not subject to change or variation. Humility is an essential ingredient in the preparation of our hearts.  We have to be humble enough to recognize that we can't do it on our own.

Samuel's message of preparing their hearts is a plea for them to focus only on the one true God and to humble themselves before Him.

Serve Him Only (v3)
How do we serve God?  I found an article by Rachel Bruner titled 15 Ways to Serve God. Here are the highlights:

Serve God Through Your Family
Give Tithes and Offerings
Volunteer in Your Community
Home and Visiting Teaching
Donate Clothing and Other Goods
Be a Friend
Serve God by Serving Children
Mourn with Those that Mourn
Follow Inspiration
Share Your Talents
Simple Acts of Service
Serve God Through Missionary Work
Fulfill Your Callings
Use Your Creativity- It Comes from God
Serve God by Humbling Yourself

Can you see how these things would bring you closer to God?  When Samuel tells the Israelites to serve him (the Lord) only, it isn't just about not worshipping other Gods, it is also about learning to love the Lord more through serving Him. 

There is Hope (v 4)
The great thing about verse 4 is that it gives each of us hope that we can become better Christians and conquer our enemies.  If the children of Israel can get their act together, then we certainly can too!  It is important to remember that this isn't something that happened overnight with the Israelites.  They had been suffering for over 20 years because of their actions.  It took them a long time to get to the point where they were ready to change. 

It will take time for us to make the changes that we need in our lives to prepare to conquer our enemies.  It's part of the humbling process and learning to lean on the Lord.  He will not let us down.  In fact He will even fight some of our battles for us if we will let him (v 10-13). 

What an awesome study session this was for me.  I am feeling a little more empowered in my battle against my enemies!  I am ready to face my day with more confidence knowing that the power behind me is greater than the challenges ahead of me! 

Lessons from the Ark

Day two hundred thirty-two

This morning I am grateful for the Spirit in my life.  Last night I had the opportunity to speak at the Seminary Fireside about the Old Testament.  I had been praying about what to say for some time now.  My goal was to get the seminary families excited about reading the Old Testament and to help them see how important it is to our time.  I had spent a lot of time on a power point presentation, but I did not write out a talk.  I only had time to jot down some thoughts that had come to me.  Thank goodness for those thoughts and for the Spirit behind them!  The Lord did not let me down.  It was one of those moments in my life where I just put it in the Lord's hands and hoped that I could keep up with the direction He led me.  What a great way to start my week!

1 Samuel 4-6
In these chapters the Israelites and the Philistines are at war.  The Israelites are losing so they decide to bring the Ark to them in hopes that it will provide what they need to conquer the Philistines.  The plan backfires and the Ark is taken.    

Now the Philistines are thinking they are pretty awesome about now, but the Lord has some surprises for them too.  He causes enough trouble for them that after seven months of having the Ark and dealing with plagues and death, they decide it's time to give the Ark back to the Israelites and to make an offering with the return to please God.

The Israelites think things are looking up, the Ark is coming back to them, but it isn't that simple.  They aren't in good standing with the Lord and He lets them know it. 

What can we learn from these chapters?

The Ark is Taken (4:1-11)The IIsraelites trusted in the Ark instead of God (4:3). They trusted in things other than God.  It is God that has the power, not the object.  The Ark was a tool through which God could work, but He is not bound by the Ark.  The Israelites feared another defeat, but they turned to the object, when all they really needed to do was to turn to God. 

Sometimes we try to find answers to our problems in objects or things. Have you ever said, if only I had this or that my problems would be solved? I know I have, usually it's the want for more money in the lean times.  I've learned the hard way that this is the least effective way to solve my problems.  It always goes so much faster when I turn to the Lord first and trust Him.

You've Got to Follow the Rules  (4:1-11)
The Israelites forgot that there were some rules regarding the Ark.

•  God determined where the Ark went; it was not taken merely where they wanted to take it (Exodus 40:36).
• They were not to just walk in and take it (Leviticus 16:2).
• There was a proper procedure for war. Taking the Ark into battle was not one of them (Numbers 10:9).

I am so guilty of not following the rules all the time.  I want the results, but I don't always want to take the steps the Lord has put in place for me to receive those results.  I have been thinking a lot about this one while studying the topic of personal revelation.  I want the answer, but I don't always prepare myself to receive it!  This sometimes leads to the next topic...

Consequences can be Harsh (5:1-6:19)
God's judgment among the Philistines is a great example of consequences for bad decisions.  Because they take the Ark and place it before their god, Dagon, the Lord destroys their god and causes a disease of tumors and boils among the people.  He does this to cause a change in their attitudes and in their actions.

The Israelites also have a harsh lesson in keeping the rules.  When the Ark is returned to them some of the men look inside the Ark, a big no-no, and 50,070 men were killed (6:19)

I remember times in my life when I thought that the consequences were to severe for my actions.  The teenage years were filled with times that I thought I was being treated unfairly.  However, after years of experience and a little more wisdom, I can see that the consequences needed to be harsh enough to make me check my attitude.  I needed to change my heart and that takes something with great impact to do, especially in a teenager!  I can even see how these times changed the direction of my actions. It's too bad that it has taken me so long to finally understand!

It's amazing that the story of the Ark is still teaching God's people today.  It is still changing attitudes and the actions of His people.  That says something about the timeless lessons to be learned from the scriptures. That is power!

Revelation: Thy Servant Heareth Part 2

Day two hundred thirty-one

It has been a busy and draining week.  I am looking forward to this Sabbath day and the opportunity to be refilled.  My prayer is that I will have my heart and mind open to the promptings of the Spirit and feel closer to the Lord today.  

1 Samuel 3:1-21
I am still working on personal revelation and what I have learned about it from the story of Samuel in chapter 3.  Today I want to start with verses 4-5.

Recognizing the Lord's Voice (vv4-5)
We learn in verses 4-5 that in this instance the Lord is speaking to Samuel in an audible voice.  This is one way in which the Lord reveals His will to us.  I have had a few experiences in my life when I thought that I had actually heard a voice guiding me, but they are the exception for me.  I have to admit that when it did happen I reacted much like Samuel, I looked to the person nearest me and asked them, "Did you say something?"  Samuel didn't recognize the Lord's voice and neither did I. 

The Voice with the Person
Why is it that we don't recognize His voice easily?  Maybe it is like Samuel's case and it is the first time this has happened to you.  You aren't sure what to expect the first time you have an experience, so it makes sense that Samuel didn't recognize the Lord's voice.  Think about all the people you see, but never speak to.  If they were to call you on the phone would you be able to place the person with the voice?  Samuel is learning to put the voice with the person.  We all have to learn this.

Who, Me?
Then there is the fact that we just can't believe that God would actually talk to us.  Samuel's time is described as "there was no open vision", there were no revelations.  We might feel that same way in our own lives, no revelation is coming.  It is difficult to overcome our 'Who, Me?' attitude.  Why would God choose to actually speak to us?  Those things only happen in the scriptures to prophets, right? 

God loves His children and the great thing about being a child of God is that He can talk to us!  In fact, He really wants to talk to us!  We are the one's that usually have the communication problem.  Receiving revelation, in all it's many forms, is meant for all God's children. 

Sending Help (v 7-9)
The Lord calls on Samuel 3 times and each time Samuel doesn't realize that it is the Lord (vv 4-8).  How many times has the Lord called on me and I haven't realized it?  I am sure more than 3 times.  Like Samuel the Lord often puts people in our lives that can help us recognize who is calling.  For Samuel it was Eli who let him know that he should reply next time he heard the voice with, "Speak Lord; for thy servant heareth."  We are blessed to have parents, friends, Church leaders, teachers, even sometimes complete strangers that the Lord can work through to help us learn to recognize His voice.  More often than not, the Lord answers my prayers or quest for knowledge through someone else.  I have even been that person for others.  It is a great reminder that we are all here to help each other, even when we are not aware of it.

The Lord's Patience (vv 4-14)
Did you notice that the Lord kept trying with Samuel?  He didn't give up on talking with him, He kept giving him the opportunity to recognize His voice.  He will do the same for us.  He will keep trying and putting those things that we need to help us in our lives so that eventually we get it.

The other side of this is that we need to follow the Lord's example and keep trying to listen so that His voice becomes familiar to us.  We need to have patience too and realize that it takes time for that familiarity to come.  How many times do you need to hear a person's voice before you can recognize it without seeing the person?  It is the same way with God.

Obedience Pays Off (vv 10-14)
When the Lord comes the fourth time Samuel is obedient to Eli's advice and he is finally able to hear the Lord's message.  This is a basic gospel principle: Obedience is the first law of Heaven (D&C 130:20-21).  We need to be obedient so that we are worthy to hear from the Lord. We are at our spiritual best when we are being obedient to the Lord.  Obedience takes sacrifice, long-suffering, patience, charity, love, and all the other attributes the Lord wants us to work on.  We are closer to God when we are obedient.

Last Thought 
In verses 19-20 we learn that Samuel remained righteous. So much so that the people knew that the Lord was with him and all the tribes recognized him as a prophet of the Lord.  What we do with our personal revelation is important.  It is given to us for a reason, to further our growth and the work of the Lord. 

This got me thinking (always dangerous),do people look at me and think that the Lord would talk with me? What reputation do I have as a Christian? Am I living my life in such a way that the Lord would want to talk with me?

I see some more areas to work on, but I also see opportunities to increase my ability to receive revelation from the Lord.  Studying this story has been filled with revelations of a sort for me.  It has become clearer to me that the Lord keeps tryng, but I am not always ready to listen.  He is willing, I just need to do my part.  I have a lot of work to do, but it will be so worth it!  

Revelation: Ready to Listen? Part 1

Day two hundred thirty

There are high and low moments in my life, just like everyone has. It is through these moments that I am learning what an amazing gift the gospel is to have in your life, especially in the low moments. It is through the gospel that I weather the lows with any amount of grace.  The knowledge that my Father in Heaven loves me, that my Savior atoned for me, and that the Spirit is with me helps me stay afloat when I feel like I'm drowning in worries or problems.  It gives me strength and allows me the option of turning whatever is pulling me down over to the Lord.  My prayer is filled with gratitude for this blessing in my life and the comfort that it brings me.  What an amazing God we have!

1 Samuel 3:1-21
This is one of those chapters that you have probably read several times in your lifetime.  In this chapter Samuel learns to recognize the Lord's voice.  Three times during the night the Lord calls and Samuel thinks that it is Eli calling him. Samuel replys to each request with "Here am I" and goes to Eli to see what he wants.  On the third time, Eli realizes that the Lord is calling Samuel and gives him the following advice on how to reply, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."

The Lord comes and calls again to Samuel, but his time Samuel uses Eli's advice and the Lord leaves him with a message (v 10).  Samuel shares the message with Eli whose reaction is stunning considering what is going to happen to his family, "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good" (v 18).  And with this encounter begins Samuel's personal growth in his relationship with God to the point that "all Israel knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord."

I have been studying personal revelation lately in an attempt to get a better grip on how it works and how to increase revelation in my own life.  As I read the story of Samuel I started to see the Lord teaching us about personal revelation. 

The Approach to Personal Revelation 
Verse 1 - Does it mean anything that we are told that Samuel is a child when all this begins?  There is something special about a child's capacity for faith and their willingness to be taught.  Jesus loves this about little children.  So much so, that he taught the adults to be more like them (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14)! 

To be effective in our approach to personal revelation we must be as a little child; humble, willing, and filled with faith.  

Also in verse 1 we learn that 'Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli'.   Samuel was actively seeking and learning about the Lord.  And he had someone there to help him along the way. 

How many times have you asked the Lord to reveal something to you, but you haven't really been seeking and learning more about Him?  I have been guilty of this many times!  Why we think the Lord should just give us an answer without any work on our part astounds me.  The gospel requires action on our part, there is nothing stagnant about it.  We are asked to seek, search, find, ask, knock, etc.  These all require action.  It makes sense then that seeking revelation requires action too!

As for Samuel receiving help from Eli, the Lord will put the people and opportunities in our lives that we need to improve our relationship with Him.  This is a great reminder that who we surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our lives.  If we are seeking to be around those that love the Lord and are actively seeking to be closer to Him, then we are more likely to do the same.  Choose your friends wisely!

Preparation for Revelation
Verses 2-3 - Samuel is getting ready to go to sleep in these verses.  He is "laid down".  He is still and quiet.  He has no distractions, "his eyes begin to wax dim, that he could not see". 

This is the area I think I need to work on the most.  When I stopped to reflect on this thought I realized that the Lord usually plants His thoughts in my heart and head while I am laying in bed before I get to sleep.  It is probably the only time of the day when I am completely still, quiet, and least distracted!  I see room for improvement here.  What more could He reveal to me if I would take the time to prepare myself to receive it?  Am I holding myself back?  Sadly, I think the answer is yes. 

So much information in just 3 verses!  So much work for me to do to improve my ability to receive revelation!  There is room for improvement in both my approach and my preparation.  Today I promise myself that I will stop holding myself back! 

Wise Investing Part 2

Day two hundred twenty-nine

There are times when my heart doesn't feel right.  Usually it has something to do with my reaction to someone or something they did.  It is not a pleasant feeling and when it happens it really bothers me.  My prayer this morning is a plea to the Lord to please make my heart a better place.

1 Samuel 1-2
In my last post I talked about the wise investment that Hannah made in her family.  Hannah's family was important to her and she put a lot of effort into overcoming her personal challenges to improve her family relations.  It also appears that faith was very important to Hannah.  Today I would like to look at Hannah's wise investment in faith.

Her Faith Was Personal - v. 10-11; 2:1-10 - In these verses, we see a woman who knows the Lord on a personal level. The words she uses in her prayer and her praise say a lot about her relationship with God. She had a personal relationship with the God of Israel. She was a believer and she was openly active in the practice of her faith.

The greatest single investment we can make in life is that of investing in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ! Not just a casual brushing up against the things of God, but a real and vital relationship with Him that controls the way we live our lives every single day.  Nothing in time or eternity is as important as our personal relationship with Jesus Christ! This should be the biggest investment in our portfolio!

Her Faith Was Practical - v. 10-18 - Through her prayer and her dialogue with Eli we see that Hannah was a woman who possessed a practical faith in God. She didn’t just know about Him, she knew Him and she trusted Him for all her needs. She leaned upon Him and trusted Him for the impossible in her life. She didn’t just talk about faith in God, she reflected it in the way she lived.

Again, Hannah sets the standard that we should resolve to meet. Not only should we possess a testimony concerning our faith, but we must live out that testimony day by day as we go through life. Nothing makes an investment in the lives of others around us like a genuine testimony expressed in our actions. A practical faith is a proclaiming faith and it always points others to Jesus Christ! 

Her Faith Was Profound - v. 11, 20-23 - More than anything in the world Hannah wanted a child. She wanted to give that gift to her husband and she wanted to experience the fulfillment of motherhood. She knew this was impossible apart from the work of the Lord so she believed in God for the impossible and promised God the incredible in return! She asked God for a son and she promised to give that son back to the Lord!

Hannah’s was no superficial faith! She had a depth of faith that is rare in this world. What a blessing it is when, as investors in faith, we come to the place where we can believe in God for the impossible situations in our lives and willingly give everything to Him for His glory. That is the kind of faith God is looking to develop in each of us! That is the kind of faith that is always honored by the Lord (v. 19-20).

How do we build faith like Hannah's?

One way to build your confidence in God is to form a habit of remembrance.  Frequently thank the Lord for what he's done for you, build a habit of gratitude.  By doing this we deepen our trust in God's compassion, mercy, faithfulness, and power. 

Another way is to pray to Him often.  Not a run of the mill prayer, but a heart to heart prayer. He wants to hear our sorrows along with our joys.  He wants to hear us say that we love Him.  When we express our feelings to Him in an honest, non sugar-coated way, we are letting Him know that we trust Him and His plan for us. 

These are just two investments that I am personally working on to build Hannah-like faith. I see the wisdom in her choices.  I recognize that I need faith like hers to get through the challenges that have been placed before me.  I need to be able to say that I trust the Lord and then live my life like I believe it. I need the comfort of knowing that God will bless me in my times of need.  I need to make a wise investment in faith!  

Wise Investing

Day two hundred twenty-eight
 We had a good FHE last night.  My family listened to a CD about personal revelation and we talked about setting goals and looking for direction.  As parents, my husband and I had the opportunity to bear our testimonies on keeping the Lord in your life, seeking His guidance, and the happiness that comes from these things.  We talked about areas of personal revelation that we need to work on like being still, listening better, and ridding ourselves of inner noise. The Spirit was there, you could feel it, and it was good to know that we were being guided as we went along.  How grateful I am for moments like this when my entire family can feel the Spirit together.  It brings us closer together on a much higher level. 

 My prayer is that we will keep that feeling in our hearts as we go throughout our day today.  May we recognize the Spirit in our lives, listen to His voice, and have the courage to do what He is leading us to do! 

 1 Samuel 1

There has been a lot of focus recently on the stock market. If you watch the news, it doesn’t take the commentators long to tell you either how well or how poor the market is doing. In fact, there are trillions of dollars, much more than we can comprehend, invested in the stock market. The people who place their money there do so with the hope and intention that the stocks in their portfolios will do well and that they will make a profit. But, of course, it doesn’t always turn out that way! Sometimes the stocks don’t do well and the investor loses some or all of his money.

Even if you don't have money in the stock market, you are still an active investor in many areas of your life. Every action, every attitude, every activity is an investment in something and it will reap either positive or negative returns. Now, in the stock market, a wise investor will study stocks before he invests in them so that he can maximize the return potential on the money he invests. Those who would make a wise investment of their lives do the same. People who are wise investors of life examine all the various areas of their lives so they can be sure they will receive the greatest dividend from their investment.

In 1 Samuel 1 we are introduced to a woman by the name of Hannah. She is presented as a woman who was a shrewd investor of her life. She made some very wise investments that continue to reap dividends down to this very day.  What investments did Hannah make?  Let's take a look:

Family 

Hannah invested her life in her family in spite of the fact that circumstances weren’t as pleasant as they should have been in her home. Yet, she persevered to make her investment in the family she loved.

She Invested In Spite Of Difficulty - v. 1-2 - Right off the bat we learn that Hannah was married to a man with two wives. I don't know about you, but to me this is a recipe for disaster! Yet, Hannah was not looking for the exit! She stayed in the family and she worked to make the best of a bad situation!

God never said the family would be an easy place to live! Families are great and they are wonderful, but every one of them is filled with people and therein lies the potential for trouble. There will be disagreements and there will be trouble, but the secret lies in not running away! We have to learn to make an investment in our families regardless of the difficulties we face in life! It’s gotten too easy to walk away in our society. People need to learn the truth, that marriage and family is a lifetime investment!

 She Invested In Spite Of Discouragement - v. 5-6 - Her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, had children, but Hannah was barren. Peninnah used Hannah’s barrenness as a means of ridicule. She mocked Hannah and made her life miserable. Verse 5 tells us that Elkanah loved Hannah. Apparently she was his favorite and it showed. Peninnah, however, could give Elkanah something that Hannah could not, namely children, and she used this as leverage in the household to mock Hannah. All of this criticism and belittling made life practically impossible for Hannah, yet she continued to invest in the family. What a testimony!

Family is like that sometimes! Discouragement crops up from time to time in the home. Husbands, wives and children all feel that they are unappreciated, taken for granted and the target of constant criticism. Sometimes people get discouraged at their fellow family members and what they say and do, but discouragement is no reason to close the door on the family.  Instead, you continue to invest your life in the people you love, knowing that in due course, you will reap the ultimate dividend, eternal life together!

She Invested In Spite Of Desperation - v. 5-6 - Both of these verses tell us that Hannah was barren because God had chosen this lot for her! She was in a situation that was of the Lord’s doing and nothing she could do would ever change it! What Hannah did not know was that God‘s plans for her life were good plans. His plan wasn’t to hurt her, his plan was to amaze her in His time!

God's plans for us are always for our good. (Jer 29:11; Rom 8:28).  It may not seem like it at the time we are going through the challenges, but when we look back on our lives we will recognize God's hand in our lives and hopefully start to understand the why of certain events. 

There will be times in your family when it may appear that the investments you are making in them are not paying off at the present time. It may look like your spouse and your children are not all you planned, prayed and hoped they would be, if that is the case, Hannah's story should encourage us to keep investing! Your family is too important for you to stop investing yourself in them now. It may seem like you do all the giving and receive none of the getting, but for those who make wise investments in their families, their dividends come at unexpected times and in marvelous ways!

Take some time today to evaluate how and what you are investing in your family.  Do you need to shuffle some of your resources to receive better dividends?  Are there some weak investments that need to have a little more attention paid to them?  Whatever your particular situation is know that you can always seek the Lord's help as you try to improve your portfolio!  It is His plan after all, who better to seek advice from!

Romance and Character

Day two hundred twenty-seven

Today's prayer was simple:  Heavenly Father I love you and I love my Savior.   Please let me show this in my words and actions today.  Thank you for the knowledge that you love me.  Please let the Spirit guide me so that others may know that you love them too.  Amen.

Ruth 3-4
As I read about the relationship between Ruth and Boaz I came to the conclusion that society  puts too much weight on romance and not enough on character. What do I mean by this?  Let's start with romance.

Romance -  "a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love."   "A fictitious tale of wonderful and extraordinary events, characterized by much imagination and idealization; without basis in fact; an exaggeration or falsehood." - Webster's New World Dictionary.

Every little girl dreams of being swept off her feet by her prince charming.  But did you catch the words in the definition of romance: fictitious, imagination, idealization, without basis in fact; exaggeration, falsehood.  The hard fact is that romance is not based on anything solid, it is not a real relationship.

When I taught seminary I had a young audience filled with dreams of romance (mostly the girls).  They would talk about their perfect man or "soul mate", what their perfect wedding would be like, and their perfect life together. I know that much of these imaginations are fed by media's representation of romance.  People, books and movies have painted an unrealistic view of relationships.  It was a sad day when I burst that bubble with a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball:

"Soul mates' are fiction and an illusion; and while every young man and young woman will seek with all diligence and prayerfulness to find a mate with whom life can be most compatible and beautiful, yet it is certain that almost any good man and any good woman can have happiness and a successful marriage if both are willing to pay the price." 

 

The truth is, the fairy tale ending we are looking for is not easy, it requires a lot of work and a good foundation to start with.  What is a good foundation?  Let's start with character.

Character - "is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual." " It is a pattern of behavior based on sound principles, moral strength, and integrity.  Plus the guts to live by those principles every day. Character is evidenced by your life’s virtues and the “line you never cross”. 


When a relationship is based on the character of those involved it is real, not imagined or exaggerated. Knowing the character of the person you plan to marry sets realistic expectations that are grounded on principles and morals, not someone's hotness factor. I found it refreshing in the last two chapters of the Book of Ruth to watch the relationship of Boaz and Ruth grow through the character of each of them. 

Now I imagine that there were some feelings of excitement and nervousness that came to both of them while they pursued the option of marriage.  These are normal feelings when courting, but the relationship wasn't based on just those feelings, it was based on mutual respect for the character of each of them. 

Character matters! Character is the most valuable thing you have, and nobody but you can ever take it away!  We will have some great examples of this in the upcoming books of the Old Testament (think David).  To be a person of good character and to find a person of good character is what the Lord wants for us.

I wonder if the Lord included this story to help us see the importance of character in our relationships, knowing that marriage and relationships in our time would suffer so much.  President  Spencer W Kimball had something to say about this:

"The Lord's way builds individual self esteem and develops and heals the dignity of the individual, whereas the world's way depresses the individual's view of himself and causes deep resentment"

If character were more important in our society, maybe then we would have lower divorce rates and fewer single parents.  When we build stronger individuals, we build stronger families.

We need to get back to the Lord's way and see where it takes us.  For Ruth and Boaz it led to being in the lineage of Jesus Christ himself.  What could be in store for us?

Humble, Hardworking, and Hands on

Day two hundred twenty-six

I've been thinking a lot about all the things the Lord asks us to do.  There are the basics like say our prayers, read the scriptures, go to Church, love one another, but then there are things that are specific for us.  These are the things that go along with the talents and gifts we have been given, or are the experiences necessary for our personal growth and preparation for a  task that we are well suited for.  I have been pondering this because I am learning to see these unique moments for what they are.  I find myself in places at the right time, having the skills and knowledge necessary to fit the circumstances.  After the experience, I look back at moments in my life that have prepared me for just this situation, and I can see the Lord's hand in it.  I am grateful for a Father that knows me so well and for the closeness that I feel to Him when I have these moments.  I am grateful that I can be an instrument in His hands and bring His love to those around me.  I hope that I will always be able to be where He needs me to be.  

Ruth 2
In this chapter we pick up the story of Ruth in the town of Beth-lehem. She and her mother-in-law, Naomi, have successfully travelled to the town and now are in need of some food.  They are poor, so Ruth decides to go to the fields and pick up the grain that the workers leave behind.  There are some positive characteristics that are shown by this action: 

She is humble (v 2) 
How many of us would not go out to a field and pick up the left overs because it was too embarrassing or we thought it beneath us?  I can think of many times when I did not want to do something because I was worried about what other people would think.  How many times has the Lord put a blessing in front of me and I didn't take it because it seemed beneath me?  Probably too many.  Ruth reminds me that to show grace during the difficult times I must be humble.

She is hardworking (v 17)  Ruth gleaned until the evening and after all the work to pick the grain up, she beat it out!  Not only was she willing to work, but she worked hard.  She gave her very best to the task. 

There is a line in the movie Return to Me about work that I love.  The main character looks down at her grandfather working and asks if he would like some help.  His reply is perfect, he says, "No, I am blessed with work."  I remember the first time I heard that line, I was so impressed with that statement.  What a great attitude and insight, to see the blessing in work.  I have used that line many times since I first heard it, it always helps me keep things in perspective when I am not so happy with the work that I need to do!  Ruth is a great example of being blessed with work.

Boaz
So far I have focused on Ruth, who is poor, but another person is introduced in this chapter that gives us an opportunity to see how the other side should behave.  His name is Boaz.  He owns the land that Ruth is gleaning from.  He is a man who is blessed to have much at that time and his behavior in this chapter is a great example of how a person of means should act in times of need.

He is Hands on
Our introduction to Boaz is with his greeting to his workers in the field.  He greets them with, "The Lord be with you" and they answered, "The Lord bless thee."  This gracious greeting between Boaz and his servants shows a pleasant man, who is among his people and treating them with respect and kindness. 

What difference would it make in your day if everyone you came in contact with, both rich and poor, treated you with respect and kindness?  What would it do for others if you always treated them with respect and kindness?  When people are pleasant to me it makes my day so much better.  I imagine it would be the same for them if I returned the favor.  Everyone deserves a little respect and kindness.

Not only does Boaz treat his servants well, he also gives us an example of caring for those that are less fortunate.  He tells Ruth that she is to glean in his field only (v 8), he lets her now that she will be safe there (v 9), he lets her know that she is welcome to the water when she needs it, and he even offers her a meal (v 14).  He goes out of his way to make sure that she is taken care of by telling the reapers to let more grain fall than usual so she has plenty (v 15-16).

There was a time in our history when people would take care of each other like this.  If a traveller came to your door seeking something you would try to accommodate them as best you could.  Those times seem to have gone by the wayside.  I don't know exactly what caused the demise of such behavior, but my best guess would be fear and abuse.  It is difficult to keep giving when you think that someone is taking advantage of you or you fear for your safety.  I am guilty of both of these thoughts.  I think I need to be more like Boaz, he is hands on, he is involved all the way to the lowest level of command.  I like that.  Maybe if I was more hands on I would know the people better and then I would have less fear and concern for being taken advantage of.  I heard a quote once that I liked: 

"The best way to get to know someone is to serve them." ~Unknown

Boaz shows us that this is true.

There are times in our lives when we will find ourselves on either side of these circumstances.  Ruth shows us how to be gracious even when we are struggling and Boaz shows us how to give graciously to those in need.  Wherever we are in life we have great examples to follow.  We need to be humble, hardworking, and hands on!

For Our Time

Day two hundred twenty-five

I prayed this morning with gratitude for some time off and for the many blessings I receive at work.  I am blessed to work with some amazing people who are great examples to me!  I also asked that my family would be blessed with some quality time, that we would love each other like crazy, and that we would be blessed with service opportunities!

Ruth 1
Sometimes when I am studying the scriptures it takes a while to get the juices flowing in my brain to find that special something that grabs my attention and says to me "Start here and see where it leads!"  I have read the book of Ruth many times before and wanted to see it in a different light this time.  As I began reading the first verse, I heard the little voice say, "Start Here!".

The first verse doesn't seem like anything too special, but in my pondering mode I found an interesting message:  The story of Ruth is for us today!  It has everything to do with us in our time!  Here are some of my thoughts:

The first verse starts off talking about the time this story takes place (the time of the judges) and what was going on in the land (famine).

It was the famine part that caught my interest.  There was more going on here than just no food!  The time of the judges was also a time of moral famine (remember each man did according to what he thought was right, even if it was wrong,Judges 21:25) and a time of spiritual famine (idols were big then, think of the story of Micah in Judges 17-18).  Does this sound familiar at all?

The world is in an economic famine of sorts, there is still food famines in the world, we are definitely in a moral famine, and spirituality is pushing to the side for worship of different kinds of idols.  This is a story for our time!

The big question is, how did Ruth survive this time with such grace? 

If we can figure that out then maybe we can learn from her how to get through OUR time with grace.

Chapter 1
Love and Compassion Verse 9 - Naomi is trying to let her daughter-in- laws go.  Ruth shows love and compassion when it says "they lifted up their voice, and wept."  It is not always easy to show love and compassion in an emotionally hard world.  It was a rough time for Ruth, she had lost her husband, she was about to lose her mother-in-law, and there had to be worries about how she was going to take care of herself.  Yet she is not bitter, but filled with love and compassion.  What a great example!

Support Team Verse 14 -  While the other daughter-in-law leaves Naomi to return home, this verse tells us that Ruth "clave" unto her.  The word "clave" means 'to hold fast to'.  During this difficult time Ruth knows that she needs 'to hold fast to' those that she loves.  They are a support system for each other.  They need each other.  Their best chance to get through this is to be united, not apart. 

Think about the difficult times in your life, who do you lean on to help you get through them?  Is it easier to push through it alone or to share the burden together?  I personally have found that when my family is in crisis and we all pull together we get through it faster and come out stronger.  The times I have tried to deal with something on my own usually are the least successful in terms of results.

Steadfast and Adapting Verses 16-18 - Ruth knows that it is right for her to stay with Naomi and she doesn't give up on that thought.  She stands her position and explains her feelings about it until Naomi understands. She is described as "stedfastly minded" in verse 18.  This is one of my favorite characteristics of Ruth.  She sticks to what she knows is right, even when those she loves don't necessarily understand it.  We need more of this in the world!

Note in these verses that Ruth is willing to adapt to make the best of this situation.  She is willing to move, to live among a new people, and to learn about their religion.  How many of us could use a little adapting in our lives?  Often we get stuck in one way of thinking and we can't see that there are other ways to get through the situation.  When that happens we miss opportunities to learn and grow.  We need to be more open and see things from all angles possible.  

Now I am not suggesting that you go and find a new God, I am merely stating that you should be more open to learning about another's beliefs.  You would be surprised at what you might learn about the other person, yourself, and even our God!  If approached in the right way, your realtionship with others, yourself, and God can be strengthened through honest discussions about your different beliefs.  

What great lessons in only one chapter! It was an eye opener to me to see the connection between Ruth's time and our time.  It also has given me the opportunity to see the areas in my life that need improvement if I am to survive this time with grace.  I am still filled with love and compassion and I have a great support team, but I need to work on the steadfast and adapting part.  I'm sure the Lord will give me plenty of opportunities to work on it! 

Ripple Effect

Day two hundred twenty-four

I have been listening to a CD of a talk given by Gerald Lund on personal revelation.  The talk was directed towards single adults, but I am finding it very interesting and informative for myself too.  He addresses questions like: What is Personal Revelation? How do you know it is Personal Revelation? How do I increase Personal Revelation in my life? It has got me thinking about my own journey in seeking understanding and receiving personal revelation.  I am so grateful for this gift we have been given.  Knowing that the Lord blesses us with the ability to know truths and to seek direction from Him is amazing.  My prayer this morning was an acknowledgement to the Lord that I am grateful for all the times that He has blessed me with personal revelation in my life.  It also included a request for some direction in my current situation.  The great thing is, I know He will answer!

Judges 19-21
We have come to the end of the Book of Judges and what is probably one of the most horrific stories in the Old Testament.  The story starts out with a Levite and his concubine.  Verse 2 tells us that the concubine went whoring and then went to her father's house for 4 months.  It is interesting to note that the phrase "played the whore" has also been translated as "she became angry" with her husband.  What a difference this would make to her character!

After four months the Levite decides to go and get his wife.  He stays with his father-in-law for a few days then travels on to Gibeah.  This is where the story gets ugly.  In Gibeah wicked men surround the man's house the Levite is staying with and demand that the Levite be given to them so that they can have sexual relations with him.  (Sounds like Lot and the Angelic messengers story).  Instead of giving the Levite to the mob, the man of the house offers the crowd his virgin daughter and the concubine of his guest.  The mob take the concubine and abuse her all night.  Upon her release she returns and makes it to the door of the house and dies. In the morning her husband find her, takes her home, cuts her up into 12 pieces and ships these pieces to the 12 tribes of Israel requesting that something be done about this.

What lessons are taught in this story so far?  How does it apply to me personally?  At first, the story seems to be a commentary on the wickedness of the people of that time.  But as I studied I was led to some other thoughts: 

Be careful how you judge the character of someone based on the words of another.  Being angry is definitely different than being a whore.

The Levite had the advice of his father-in-law to stay longer and his servant tried to lead him away form Gibeah, but he wouldn't listen.  Listen to what others have to say, you never know if the Lord is guiding you through another!

The hardest point for me to reflect upon was, have I ever sacrificed another to protect myself?  I can remember as a child pointing the blame on another to protect myself.  It did not lead to the person's death, but I know that it created trust issues between us, and who knows what other effects it had on them. 

This brought to mind the ripple effect.  The ripple effect is a term used to describe a situation where, like the ever expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it, an effect from our actions can be followed outwards incrementally.  In other words, our actions can have far-reaching effects on the world around us.

We pick up the story in chapter 20 with the tribes gathering to go against the tribe of Benjamin because they will not turn over the men that committed the crime. Why would they protect these guys?  Why do WE lie for others? Why do WE not turn our friends in when they do something wrong? Why do WE cover for others when we know it's wrong? There are lots of why's in this story!

The story goes on to tell us that by the end of the fighting the tribe of Benjamin had lost 25,100 men and was left with only 600 men alive.  Talk about a ripple effect!  The actions of the mob of men who could not control their sexual urges almost led to the complete destruction of a whole tribe!

Then in chapter 21 we learn that some more shady business goes on to try to get wives for the Benjamites that are left.  Men killed, women kidnapped, is it okay to right a wrong with another wrong? When does it ever stop once you start down that path?

The last verse of chapter 21 sums it all up:  "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." 

"That which is right in his own eyes" That says a lot about how important it is that we have the Lord in our lives.  Our actions need to be right in His eyes, not just ours.  The interesting thing about the ripple effect is that it works in a positive way too.  Our positive actions can create the opportunity to effect many for good and even encourage others to do good.  When our actions are right in the eyes of the Lord then our ripples are positive.

My goal today is to leave positive ripples wherever I go.  Through my actions I want to leave others feeling good and give them the desire to continue the ripple effect in a positive way.  This will take effort and restraint on my part, but after studying the devastation that negative ripples can bring, I think it is worth it!

Hypocrites and Users or Not?

Day two hundred twenty-three

Things have leveled out a bit so I thought that I would try to get a post in.  I don't know if I will be able to post everyday, but I figured something is better than nothing. My prayer is focused on my family and their needs today.  I've been praying for comfort, understanding, wisdom, patience, courage, and love lately.  There is a genetic disposition to depression in my family and when it manifests itself it can be a difficult trial to endure, for all parties involved.  I have learned to turn to the Lord in prayer and to search the scriptures for help.  It is amazing what you can find in the scriptures when you are looking through humble eyes!  Today's uplifting scripture I found in 2 Timothy 4:17: "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me..." 

Judges 17-18
Last I wrote about my scripture study I think it was at the end of Samson's life. Well today we are introduced to some interesting people that made me stop and think about how I look at others.

At the beginning of this story Micah has stolen 1,100 pieces of silver from his mother.  When she finds out that it was stolen she pronounces a curse on the person who stole it.  Micah gets scared because of the curse and returns the money to her.  She pronounces a blessing on him instead of the curse and then decides to commit idolatry in his name.  She has an idol made for Micah to keep in his home.  Micah then has a shrine in his house and consecrates one of his sons to be a priest.  Then worship is to go on in his shrine with the idol, the ephod, the household gods, and the priest.  (Judges 17:1-5)

As I read to this point I was flabergasted at the character of these two people.  A mother who uses the Lord's name to curse and bless her son for stealing money, but turns around and after stating that she had dedicated the money to the Lord, takes some of it and has an idol built for her son.  And a son that would steal from his mother, then create his own little church at his house! 

The story gets worse! A Levite priest who is looking for a place to live comes to Micah's house and is invited by Micah to stay with him and be his priest.  Not a priest to the city, but of Micah's homemade church.  This same priest in chapter 18 will leave Micah's house for a more prestigious position, religious leader for a whole people, and will take all of  Micah's religious artifacts with him!  What is going on here?

Mother, Son, Priest, these are relationships in which you expect trust, not hypocrisy.  They all seem to be people of God, but their actions are totally opposite of what they should be and depict them as users.  It made me think of Luke 6:46 when Jesus asked "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"  How did this happen to the people?

Verse 6 in chapter 17 gives us a clue, "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Every person consulted only his own heart, only his interests, in determining what was right.  This is the tragedy in this story, that these people think that they are doing what is right, even when it really was unrighteous. Is that hypocrisy?

How many times in your life have you done something because you thought it was right, based on what you knew, and it turned out to be wrong?  I think that is a universal situation, everyone experiences it at least once.  I experienced it while reading these chapters!  I was so quick to judge these people and label them hypocrites and users because of their actions.  I never stopped to look at them from their point of view.    How many times have I done this in the world?  I don't know, too many I am sure. 

There are questions raised that I hadn't thought of before. Were their actions motivated by their circumstances?  Did their lack of leadership and guidance affect their choices?  Stealing and idol worship are never right, but do I have a right to condemn them for their actions? How would I behave if left to my own devices?

I got more than I bargained for in this study session, it was a humbling experience.  My eyes are a little more open about judging people. I need to be more careful about how I perceive others.  My job isn't to judge them, but to love them.  I have something to work on today! 

Another Bump In The Road

Day one hundred twenty two

Life has provided me with one more bump in the road.  This time I have to put all that I have learned from studying the scriptures to the test!  I am going to have to trust the Lord on this one and ride it out.  However, this bump will require my time and efforts to be more focused, so I have decided to take a break from writing my blog so that I can put my efforts into taking this bump gracefully instead of making it a kidney buster. 

Hope to be back writing soon!   

Tactics

Day two hundred twenty-one

I finally got over myself and turned my attitude around yesterday.  This morning I thought it appropriate to thank the Lord for hanging in there with me.  I am so grateful for His hand in my life and His ability to put the things and people in my day that I need to keep my attitude in check. His relationship with me provides me with the prefect example of perseverance and endurance, He never gives up on me!  Thanks for always being there!

Judges 16
The last glimpse we had of Samson was of a man who seemed to have gotten his act together. We saw Samson calling on the Lord in humility. He prayed to the Lord and God delivered him from death through a great miracle. That story ends with Samson judging Israel for 20 years.

After a period of peace and service to Israel, Samson falls once again into his old ways. His old passions rise to the surface and Samson once again finds himself entangled in a web of sin. Samson may have been a powerful man physically, but he was a moral weakling. He may have demonstrated his power time and again over the enemies of the Lord, but he was helpless against the power of his flesh.

As I read chapter sixteen I was looking for what would lead Samson into the world of sin again.  Those that are familiar with the story know that it is his lust for women that leads to his demise, but how did it happen?  I reread the chapter underlining any words or phrases that I felt had to do with sin.  Here are some examples:

verse 2 - "come hither", "compassed him in", "laid in wait', "were quiet"

verse 5 - "entice" "prevail", "bind"

verse 9 - "laying in wait"

verse 16 - "pressed him daily", "urged him", "soul was vexed"

verse 19 - "afflict"

verse 20 -  "the Lord was departed from him"

Can you see the association of these words with sin?  Satan's tactics are clearly portrayed in Samson's story.  The Gazites reaction to Samson is a perfect outline of these tactics:

First there was the opportunity for sin "Samson is come hither"

Second, the phrase "compassed him in”. That means that his enemies surrounded him. They laid a trap for his capture.  That is the way sin works as well.

Third, the Gazites also “laid wait for him all night”. They were patient as they waited for him to leave the harlot’s house. They were in no hurry because time was on their side.

Sin is also patient in the way it works. It will play its cards close to the vest until the sinner is hopelessly entangled in its web. The sinner doesn’t always feel the trap closing around them when they are living out their life of pleasure, but sin is patient, and when the time is right, it will spring the trap and destroy the life of its victim.

Fourth, the Gazites “were quiet all the night”. They did not let Samson know they were there and lying in wait to capture him.

Such is the subtle nature of sin. It does not tell the truth. It leads the sinner to believe that there can be pleasure with no consequences. Sin never tells the truth.

If Samson teaches us anything, he teaches us the truth that we must guard our hearts. We must shield our lives from all the evil influences that would lead us away from God. We need to watch the places we go. We need to be aware of the things we give our attention to.  We need to be careful about the people we associate with. If we allow sin into our lives, it will wrap itself around us until it has choked the life right out of us. It will not stop until it has destroyed us and everything we love.  There are always consequences attached sin, and God will allow those consequences to be brought to pass in our lives because He loves us! (Heb. 12:6-11; Rev. 3:19.)

Benjamin Franklin got it right when he said, "Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden; but it is forbidden because it is hurtful." 

This is a good opportunity to examine the things in our own lives that may be leading us into a life of sin. Where do we spend our time? Are there things we watch or listen to that could be hurting us spiritually? Who are we spending our time with? Do our friends build us up or are they bringing us down? Remember Satan's tactics and take an honest look into your life and decide what should stay and what should go, then do it!  We have a powerful tactic of our own: If shedding our lives of those questionable things seems bigger than you, ask for help through prayer. There is no one bigger than God and because He loves you He will help!