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Press the arrow to listen to “I Surrender All” by Brian Littrell as you read today’s devotion.

Scripture
A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.” 2 Samuel 15:13-14

Observation
Why didn’t David put up a fight? After all, his throne was under threat. Stalin wiped out over 20 million to protect his grip on power. Why didn’t David fire a shot?

There is one simple reason that David did not fight back. The nation was not under threat, his God-given leadership was. God had made him king and no amount of scrapping on his part could shore that up. Either he was the anointed king or he was not. Only God knew the answer and only God could demonstrate it.

The greatness of David’s heart is shown not just when he felled a giant but also when he retreated from the capitol of the nation. David fled Jerusalem not because he was in danger, but because his presence endangered the city. If a war were to be fought, David wanted it clear of the people that he led. Hitler held onto Berlin to the end, bringing himself and his city into ruin. David did not because, even under attack, David was a man after God’s own heart.

Application
This episode is an extreme example of an every day experience. There are responsibilities that we are given by the Lord. We may not be driven out of town, but critics can nibble around the edges. The self-defense reflex is always ready to put up a fight. Then David’s example steps into our experience and challenges us to a better way of living and leading. The best way to receive what God has prepared for us is to let it go.

This means that in the day to day work we do with the responsibilities God has given, that we need to hold the steering wheel lightly. There is nothing we can do to strengthen our grip on authority. Only God gives that respect, so we need to live in moment by moment surrender so that everything is from him

Prayer
Father, today help me to hold onto leadership lightly so that you can do all that you have planned through me. Amen.