I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. 27To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

28You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. 19He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. 20The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

Lord God my Father,

You are so worthy of my praise. Help me to keep you in my thoughts before any desire comes to me. Keep me close so I see your greatness before I enter a struggle. You are everything good.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then the king ordered that they bury the bones in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, at the town of Zela in the land of Benjamin. After that, God ended the famine in the land.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to bring your desire to myself and those around me and encourage healing to our country.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;

you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

I will praise you as long as I live,

lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

5You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

“You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”

30“Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”

Lord God my Father,

You are my protector, help me to trust your strength. The more I praise you, the more strength I seem to have. You make me feel comfortable in life’s struggles and take the burden for me. Help me to release my desire to be in control and accept your guidance with obedience and delight.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. 6Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.

But Ittai said to the king, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death.”

For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!

Lord God my Father,

Keep me so close that Satan cannot deceive me. Protect me with your Peace. Give me courage to stay with you in all trials. Give me discernment for your plan.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom.

God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to grow in your wisdom so you can use me as you wish. Help me to be still with my thoughts so your plan can flow through me as you desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

In the spring of the year,11:1 Hebrew At the turn of the year. The first day of the year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or April. when kings normally go out to war,

 “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents,11:11 Or at Succoth. and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”

Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

 But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

blot out the stain of my sins.

2Wash me clean from my guilt.

Purify me from my sin.

3For I recognize my rebellion;

it haunts me day and night.

His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.”

22David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from following my own plan and submitting to yours completely. Keep me from my sinful desires and straying off the path you desire. Give me strength to overcome the strongholds I allow in my life and cut me loose from the boundaries I place on your blessings for me. Set me free in your plan and desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the land so they can come in and conquer it!” 4So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved them, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me focused on your truth and protect me from deception.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.

 In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

Lord God my Father,

Have your way with me and give me strength and obedience to do your will without delay. Protect me from distraction and help me keep my focus on you alone.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.” 

After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.

 David turned and went home to bless his own family.

Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to remember to ask you before doing anything. Help me to allow you full access to my thoughts and actions. Help me to give you glory in all things and give me boldness to be a fool for you with my praise.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar5:23 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 5:24. The exact identification of this tree is uncertain. trees. 24When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”

they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them. 

 the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. 7Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this.6:7 As in Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text reads because of his irreverence. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.

Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.

Lord God my Father,

Give me your Peace to overwhelm my thoughts so I may hear you in the quiet. Give me obedience to follow your desire above my own and courage to act on it now. Help me to march into the struggle with confidence you provide and a fear to not question you with my doubt.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen