GUIDANCE: The Lord will tell you which way to go - 1 Samuel 9:6

Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, “Let’s go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!” But the servant said, “I’ve just thought of something! There is a man of God who lives here in this town. He is held in high honor by all the people because everything he says comes true. Let’s go find him. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.” 1 Samuel 9:5-6

Prayer:
Loving Father, I know that apart from Jesus, people have no clue how to guide their lives or direct their steps. I, too, once lived without the guidance of the Good Shepherd, troubled by uncertainty and lost in the paths of utter devastation. I praise You for sending Jesus Christ to find me and lift me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Mighty Shepherd, I honor You for rescuing me from the broad way that leads to destruction and guiding me along the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Everything You say comes true and will come to pass. Let me hear Your voice saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” I ask in Your mighty name.

LEADER: The LORD makes you a servant leader - 1 Samuel 7:15

Samuel continued as Israel’s leader [judge] all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:15-17

Prayer:
Abba Father, make me a servant leader like Jesus. Thank You for working in me and through me each day, so that there may be less of me and more of Jesus in all I say and do. Please continue to form me into a powerful leader, as You did with Samuel. I ask You to bless me with wisdom from above and a discerning heart, so that I may help my family and friends grow stronger in their faith and deepen their commitment to serving You. Holy Spirit, teach me to lead by example, as Samuel did, faithfully reflecting Christ’s love, grace, and truth within my circle of influence as I make my daily circuit. Use me this day to uplift someone who feels lost towards our Savior, Jesus Christ. I ask this in His precious name. Amen.

Heavenly Truth:

• "But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your bondservant. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
• For it is God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill His purpose] for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13

EBENEZER: Your help comes from the LORD - 1 Samuel 7:12

So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the LORD as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the LORD to help Israel, and the LORD answered him. Then Samuel took a stone, set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and said, "The LORD has helped us all the way"--and he named it "Ebenezer" ('which means 'the stone of help'). 1 Samuel 7:9,12

Prayer:
Never, Lord Jesus, will You leave me or forsake me. Therefore,  

I will confidently declare, "The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" No matter what challenges, trials, or hardships I face in this life, I will trust in Your unfailing presence, which gives me hope and assurance that You are always with me. Holy Spirit, guide someone across my path today who feels helpless and desperately in need of hope. Open the door for me to pray with and for them, as Samuel pleaded to the LORD for Israel. God of miracles, as I place a stone in their hand and call it "EBENEZER," please come to their rescue. I ask for Your help in the mighty name of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

INTERCESSOR: Jesus intercedes for you - 1 Samuel 7:5

Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.” 1 Samuel 7:5

Prayer
Abba Father, Samuel's faithful words, "I will intercede for you," remind me that my Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, lives to intercede for me before Your throne of grace. Lord Jesus, I praise You as my faithful Mediator and Advocate, who never ceases to pray for me. As You prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail, I ask You to strengthen my faith and keep me steadfast through every trial and temptation. Thank You that I never face life's battles alone, for You are with me and always intercede for me. I exalt Your holy and mighty name and will forever trust in it, Lord Jesus Christ!

Eternal Truth:
There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Hebrews 7:23-25

DELIVERANCE: Return to the LORD and He will deliver you - 1 Samuel 7:3

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7::3

Prayer:

Father of mercies, I praise You for forgiving me when I strayed from You to pursue the foreign gods and Ashtoreths of this world, which left me bankrupt and were unable to satisfy my soul's deepest needs. Thank You for showing such great mercy to a prodigal son like me by receiving me with open arms when I returned to You. Lord Jesus, like the grateful leper You healed, I return to praise and worship You for Your deliverance in my life. Holy Spirit, please guide someone across my path today who has wandered far from God, is in great danger, and feels enchained by fear. Open their heart to this truth: "If you return to the LORD with all your heart, He will deliver you from the powers of darkness." Mighty Savior, please break their chains of idolatry and deliver them as we pray in Your mighty name. Hosanna (save now)!  

LIVING TRUTH:
"You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause and think upon this]." Psalm 32:7

STAND: Jesus Christ opens the way for you to stand in God's presence - 1 Samuel 6:20

And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?” 1 Samuel 6:20

Prayer & Praise:
I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus my Savior. In reverence I come before You, LORD God, entering Your Most Holy Place through the new and living way opened by Jesus Christ. As I reflect on the question of the people of Beth Shemesh, 'Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?', my heart replies: only those cleansed by the precious, sinless blood of Christ that makes atonement for our sins. Lord Jesus, I can never thank You enough for reconciling all who trust in You to our Heavenly Father. I draw near with full assurance of faith to stand before God's throne of grace, where I find mercy and help in time of need. To You alone be all glory, honor, and praise, forever and ever. Amen.

LIVING TRUTH:

• "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Placed by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a Great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-21 
• "But now, in union with the Messiah Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah." Ephesians 2:13

HAND: Your life is in the hand of God - 1 Samuel 5:6

But the hand of the LORD God was heavy upon the Ashdodites, and He ravaged them and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. And He brought up against them rats, and they burst out in their ships, and rats sprang up in the midst of their land, and there was a great terror of death in the city. 1 Samuel 5:6

Prayer & Praise:
I acknowledge, Almighty God, that Your omnipotent hand can bring both great destruction and retribution in the blink of an eye, as the people of Ashdod experienced due to their prideful irreverence and idolatrous hearts. My soul sings with joy and praises You, Lord Jesus, for Your saving grace. Thank You for rescuing me from idolatry and delivering me from the painful consequences of my past sins. Please give me a heart like Yours that hates sin and loves righteousness, so I may commit to walking in Your footsteps as a God-pleaser and experience His good hand of grace in my life. I pray in Your mighty name.

LIVING TRUTH:

• "And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work." Nehemiah 2:18
• "The hand of the LORD was on me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones." Ezekiel 37:1
• "The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He directs it wherever He desires." Proverbs 21:1
• "The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him." Ezra 7:6b
• "For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:30-31