HSM 40-Day Consecration - Day 3

HSM 40 Day Consecration Weekday Devotional
Day 3: Friday, February 24, 2023  
Author:  Elder Derrick D. Rodgers, Dean of Christian Education
MEDITATE I Samuel 15:22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

PRAY: Lord, I pray that I wouldn’t make Lent about myself this year, but instead about your great love for me through your sacrifice of Jesus. May I focus on your love above all else-- thank you, Jesus, for giving your life for mine."

DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE:
In I Samuel 15, King Saul disobeys God's command to destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. He spares the king and his best livestock, justifying his actions as an offering to God. Samuel rebukes Saul for prioritizing religious rituals over obedience, which is what God desires. Saul's disobedience and deception lead to his rejection by God.  As we go through our consecration during this Holy, remember that we  must O.B.E.Y.
O - Openness: We must be open to hearing God's voice and willing to receive His instructions.
B - Believe: We must believe that God's ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts; therefore, we must trust that His commands are best, because they work for our good.
E - Endurance: Obedience is not a one-time event, but a continual act of surrendering our will to God's. It takes endurance to keep obeying even when difficult or against our natural inclinations.
Y - Yield: Ultimately, obedience requires us to yield control of our lives to God. We must be willing to let go of the wheel of our lives, and submit the navigation completely to God, who knows the plan for us, as well as the pathway to get there.
REFLECT: Where am I focusing my attention?"