RESPONDING TO CRISIS SITUATIONS IN LIFE.

"…. I have found David…. a man after mine own heart." Acts 13:22.

How do you respond when you face a crisis in your life? Do you feel it's all finished and give up trying to overcome and move on to victory? Here's a man who responded rightly during moments of great crisis in his life.

The Bible tells us more about this man David than anyone else except Lord Jesus Christ Himself. More than 60 chapters of the 0.T. are given to David's life. David was a man after God's own heart as God Himself gives quite a testimony. But why?

Because, when he was in trouble David always responded rightly: he responded towards God. The situations David faced you will face too, since 'there is nothing new under the sun' (Eccl.1: 9).

So God wants you and me to learn something from this precious man. Let us have a look at the crisis situations in David's life and in all of them how David responded rightly: DAVID RESPONDED RIGHTLY-

1.WHEN HE FACED WITH A GREAT CHALLENGE: - In 1 Samuel 17,we read of Goliath's challenge to which all the Israel's Army, including king Saul were running away in fear. David saw the challenge, responded to it and obtained a great victory for God. What would you do when you meet such a giant challenge? Would you run, or would you respond like David did? God's Kingdom is built by men and women who respond rightly to the overwhelming challenges they meet.

2.WHEN HE WAS PROMOTED:-In 1Samuel 18:5 David was appointed as Army Chief by King Saul. Quite an honor and job for young man like David. He became very popular, experienced great victories and became a celebrated man. But in this promotion, it says: David behaved wisely. David knew how to handle promotion and responded rightly. What about you?

3.WHEN HE WAS DEMOTED:-In I Samuel 18:13-30,how in jealousy towards David king Saul demotes him. But once again David responded rightly. David continued to behave wisely, even when demoted. How would you respond when demoted? David truly took this humiliation as an opportunity to humble himself under the mighty hand of God. (1 Peter 5:6).

4.WHEN LEADERS ABOVE HIM MISUSED THEIR AUTHORITY: (1Samuel 24:10-11; 26:9-11). This was the most difficult situation in David's life, which he had to handle. When king Saul went wrong; David never attacked, criticized, or publicly said anything to Saul. David refused to touch the Lord's anointed. David didn't take judgement into his own hands. What a tremendous heart-attitude of David! How do you respond when your leaders go wrong and begin to misuse their authority? Think.

5.WHEN HIS ENEMIES DIED: -2Samuel 1:23 tells how king David sang a mourning song when Saul and Jonathan died. David didn't rejoice when his enemy died. He really did love his enemies and could weep when his enemies died. How would you react when the person who has tried to make your life miserable for about 13 years and who even tried to kill you died? (Proverbs 24:17-18).

If this simple unimportant shepherd boy can respond like that, you and I can also. The great crisis moments of his life proved clearly that David had the right heart-attitudes because he was a man after God's own heart.

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