But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

10Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11“I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” 

Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

16“Enough!” Samuel said to Saul.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

 “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty,

Lord God my Father,

Your plan brings me prosperity and Peace, Lord God, I need your angel army to join me in slaying my selfish nature so I may serve you wholeheartedly. Give me the courage I need to slay the thoughts that lead me away from your path, make me victorious so I may represent you boldly, without compromise. I want to obey you completely but I struggle with my selfish desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

onathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

Lord God my Father,

Your plan is perfect and timed just as you want it. Keep me from rushing due to my lack of trust in you and be patient in your timing. Help me to be still and Know you. Give me courage to follow your nudging.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 

But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out together as one. 

But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 

Lord God my Father,

Your way leads to Peace in my heart. Show me how to allow you to rest on me well. Protect me from the deceiver and open my heart to hear your way. Reveal my rebellion so it may be removed and make all my thoughts delightful to you. Convict me in my sin nature so it may be defeated.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.”

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

Lord God my Father,

I am a sinner and I do things that are displeasing to you. Lord God, give me your powerful Peace and show me how to turn from my desires and to your order, allow your strength to overcome my struggles for completely follow you alone.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.

Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.”

Lord God my Father,

You are creator, sustainer and all knowing, your path is Truth. Help me to follow you without distraction of my desire but by the design you have for me. Help me to do your will at every opportunity and not be shy. Use me and give me strength to only follow you, protect me from the deceiver that constantly nags me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Lord God my Father,

You are designer of all things. Your way brings order. Give me a heart that only looks for your order without judgment, help me to accept your way completely and bring your Peace into my spirit. Guide me to your abundant way and protect me from my own desires that bring frustration.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza.

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 

Lord God my Father,

You are awesome and creator of all things. Your way is perfect and good. Keep me humble and seeking of your way above all distractions. Help me to rest in your way and delight in your creation. Keep me from falling into my sinful desires and to care for myself so I may represent you well in all situations. Allow your Peace to rest well in my thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

“We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!”

23But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.”

Lord God my Father,

You are almighty and all powerful. Give me courage to approach you with great humility and allow you to rest on me. Give me direction that releases your glory and keep me from getting puffy. Your strength and direction is all I need. help me to allow your wisdom to rest on me no matter where it comes from.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? 13But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

15But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” 16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

Lord God my Father,

You are all knowing and all places, your way brings order and Peace. Keep me close because I tend to stray from you and experience stresses of my own desire. Take my weakness and place your strength on it so I may follow you and you alone. I am a sinner and need your salvation.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

But the officials of Sukkoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?”

7Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”

8From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had. 9So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”

The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

23But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” 

No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals.

Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Lord God my Father,

Your Love, Grace and perfect plan delights my spirit. Help me to follow your way so I may represent you well. Reveal all the false gods I may carry so they can be completely destroyed. Cause me to live in your desire and release your way in me. Protect me from my sin nature.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen