MARCH 13, 2024
David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.
- 1 Samuel 30:8
For the next couple of days our devotions will be focusing on recovery and restoration. We will delve into restoration, and how God can recover what we have lost. When we look at the meaning of recovery in light of scripture, we understand that to recover is to return to a normal state. Recovery encompasses many aspects of life, be it health, time, strength, or possessions etc.
In Mark 4:37-39, we get a glimpse into a situation that is out of the norm. The sea is raging, and the disciples are frightened until Jesus speaks to the storm and it calms. Just as that sea was out of control, recovery is needed most when people are going through turbulent times, when time is stolen, and when possessions are either lost, or destroyed.
In the book of Luke 15, it recounts situations of losses, such as the lost sheep (v3-7), the lost coin (v8-10) and the prodigal son who was lost to his family (v11-32). We know that as children of God, dwelling in the Kingdom of God – we do not lose anything that we are unable to recover in the name of Jesus! When we dwell in the Kingdom and are aligned with the plan and purpose of God, it may seem we are at a loss, or something has slipped through our fingers, but we must know that it can never slip the hands of God.
We may ask “what can make a person lose things?” Sin is one of the answers, and in the next devotional we will look at the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, how he sinned against God and how God restored him. But not all losses are due to sin, though sin can be a stubborn cause of loss. John 16:33b says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This shows us that some losses come because we live in a fallen world and since Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), he sometimes is the cause of our losses. But we are to take heart for Jesus has overcome this world!
Irrespective of the cause of loss, recovery is always possible with God.
Job is a great example of this. In Job 1, we see God allowing Satan to shake up Job’s world to see if he would still stand with God. Despite Satan destroying all he had Job still worshiped and reverenced God (Job 1:20-22). Because Job did not lose hope in God, all he had was restored, by Job 42:10-16 God had doubled all of Job’s possessions and wealth, He gave him another ten children, and he lived to see his children’s children to the fourth generation (recovered time and health). When we trust and fully give ourselves to God, he reminds us that nothing is ever lost.
Irrespective of the cause of loss, recovery is always possible with God. In 1 Samuel 30 when David comes back to the Israelite camp from war. All their women, children and possessions were taken by the Amalekites. Instead of using his own understanding, in verse 8 David inquires of the Lord and the Lord responds saying, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” And in verse 18-19 we see that David recovered his two wives and nothing among their children, animals and plunder was missing. Because David knew where his help came from, he went into battle knowing that he had already defeated the Amalekites, and God would recover everything that had been taken.
We know that as we align ourselves to the will of God as both David and Job did, and are under His covering, He will restore all that we have lost. It is not His will that we remain defeated therefore he will restore us in the name of Jesus!
Song of Worship
The Most High reigneth, The Most High reigneth
The Most High reigneth in my life today 2x
Prayer - Dear Lord, please cause us to recover and regain all we have lost. Whatever is not in a blessed state, we speak recovery to it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible in 1 year: Deuteronomy 22-24