And the Lord was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.

The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit16:14 Or an evil spirit; also in 16:15, 16, 23. that filled him with depression and fear.

 Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me in your Grace and give me courage to overcome the strongholds that keep me from completely doing your will. Help me to trust your plan and allow your spirit to guide me courageously. Give me discernment to know evil and keep me protected from it.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”

So Saul said to the priest, “Never mind; let’s get going!”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to be in complete agreement with your desire. I surrender my thoughts and wish for you to have your way.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”

Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?”

 “Stay here, for I have received a special message for you from God.”

At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.

When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” 

“No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”

Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! 

Lord God my Father,

Help me to trust in your plan especially when I don’t know what your up to. Keep me humble and open to hear. Allow the Holy Spirit to be my guide, I am tired of struggling on my own, I need you. Keep the attack away and cause me to thrive.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were.

 “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 

Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods.

But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20“We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to hear and know you, expose my sin and allow me to rely on your strength alone. Help me to clean my life of my own sinful nature and only follow you. Keep me from wanting to be like those around me but be yours alone.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“He will protect his faithful ones,

but the wicked will disappear in darkness.

No one will succeed by strength alone.

10Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered.

But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.

“It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to surrender all of me to your desire. Protect me from greed and laziness. I need you to fight for me, I am too weak alone. I wish to only honor you in all ways. Have your way in me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to trust in your plan especially when I struggle to understand. Help me to be obedient no matter the circumstances.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”

Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.

Lord God my Father,

Your plan is better than anything I can imagine, help me to accept it without changing it to my desire. Help me to submit to your plan wholeheartedly and do what you desire for me. Help me to move past the strongholds I cling on to and allow your restoration to have it’s way. It is for your glory my desire is to act.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?”

But the people of Benjamin would not listen. 14Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.

the men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.

Lord God my Father,

Open the eyes of your people, cause us to truly see the evil that is running wild in our nation. Open the ears of all of us to hear your Truth and give courage to those who know you. Allow your battle to restore your design in our hearts to be successful today.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 

Lord God my Father,

Protect me from poor decisions and keep me strong in this evil world to represent you well.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”

36And she said, “Father, if you have made a vow to the Lord, you must do to me what you have vowed, for the Lord has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites. 

Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.

 At last, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she was tormenting him with her nagging.

Lord God my father,

Keep my heart in good standing so I don’t bring disaster to myself. Help me to trust in your plan even when it is beyond my understanding. Keep me from doing evil in your sight and give me strength against the attack of darkness.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen