READ: 1 Samuel 16:1 - 13: Ephesians 2:4 - 7
RAISING UP: In the New Testament to be "raised up" is set in the context of the spiritual transformation we experience through Jesus' resurrection. As believers, we are raised up together with Him in the likeness of His resurrection. The New Testament also links this with being seated with the Lord and reigning with Him. We will use the link between being raised up and reigning and take some prayer points from the anointing of David.
FULLNESS: In ministering to us God always operates from a position of fullness. There is an obvious link for us here as Samuel used a full horn of oil to anoint David (vl). Let's begin by praising God for His overflowing generosity towards us.
KINGSHIP: God raises us up so that we can reign in life (Romans 5:17). Even though our time for fully reigning with Him has not yet come (1 Corinthians 4:8), we can learn from David's call into kingship (v1). Let's pray that we will all know what it is to reign in life through the power of the Lord's resurrection.
SACRIFICE: David's anointing for kingship took place in the context of worship and sacrifice (v2). Let's pray for greater expressions of costly worship in our own lives.
NAME AND ANOINTING: Samuel was to anoint the one whom the Lord named to him (v3). Let's rejoice that the Lord knows us all by name and calls us to Himself.
BEFORE THE LORD: Samuel's understanding of choosing the new king was that the new king had to be seen as standing before the Lord (v6). "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him!" is a good test for own lives too. Let's pray that we will have that conscious awareness of living our whole lives before the Lord.
HEART APPEARANCE: The Lord told Samuel that He looks on the heart rather than on the outward appearance (v7). Let's pray that we will keep this in mind for ourselves and for others.
DETERMINATION: Samuel's determination is seen in the statement "we will not sit down till ..." (v11). It is good to realise that the Lord has shown the same determination concerning us and is still exercising it towards others. Let's pray for those we sense the Lord has a special purpose for yet they are still to realise it.
CONSISTENCY: The anointing on David was to remain (v13). Let's pray for consistency in our own lives.