“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”
Ezekial 22:30
The father of a family called his eldest son and said to him, “Son, you are a great soldier but I would like for you to help me care for the few sheep we have.” He disagreed with his father and responded, “Father, I am a very busy man, I am part of the military, I love my job and I do not have time.” The father did not become upset but continued to consult with his other sons, who were also in the army of the king but he got the same response from them. He came to ask his 4th son, who avoided the responsibility just as the others. Finally, his last option was to speak to the youngest. He went to him and said, “Son, would you be able to help me care for these few sheep.” “It would be an honor to serve you father,” he responded. With great determination he took on this seemingly small responsibility. The name of this young man was David. While his brothers were in the army with their impeccable uniforms, David had to spend long nights out in the fields caring for a few sheep. Despite this he was never sad and did his job without a single complaint. On the contrary, he found being out there on his own was a great opportunity to strengthen his relationship with God. His harp became his best companion; through it he discovered one of the greatest secrets. He loved to worship God with all of his strength. He became a great warrior simply because he had to defend himself and his sheep from wild beasts. He had to fight off bears and even lions.
Despite being alone David remained faithful to the responsibility handed him. Even though there was no one there, his every move was being watched, from the spiritual realms. God had his eye on David and was searching his whole heart during that time. One day the Lord told one of His servants, the prophet Samuel, “I have found a man after My own heart.” Samuel relayed these same words to King Saul when he disobeyed the word God had given him. Through Samuel God spoke to Saul, saying, “But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command” (1 Samuel 13:14).
Great ministries start with small responsibilities. We understand that faithfulness is doing things with a good heart, with love, joy and enthusiasm. If we are faithful in the little, the Lord will entrust us with something greater. God took David out of the field where he tended sheep and placed him as king over His people. When my daughter Sara was only five years old, she came with me to minister on the platform and really enjoyed the experience of praying for people. When she laid her hands on them they would fall to the floor under the power of the Holy Spirit. One day we were in Brazil, at a convention for Pastors and leaders, when my daughter Sara realized that I would be praying for them she ran over to me and asked, “Dad, do you want me to help you?” “Of course,” I responded. That day she helped me pray for more than one thousand pastors. When she became tired she told me, “Okay, I’ve helped you a lot dad.” So, she left and ran off to continue doing what she had been doing. At nine years of age she began to lead her first cell group. At eleven she gave her first message in a convention. Now, she is eighteen years old and is an international conference speaker who loves what she does.
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“God sought me and found me. Seeing my faithfulness, He honored me by allowing me to serve in His work.”
Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Two.
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
Our Bible Reading Plan gives 25 daily readings per month. There is no scheduled reading for today. You can use this time to catch up on any readings you may have missed, or read through previous passages again.
