1 Samuel 12:24

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”

Samuel was a prophet and judge for Israel. When he was young, God spoke to him clearly. In his life he saw God do some great things for Israel. God used him to anoint Saul as king as well as David, a young shepherd, as king. Samuel stayed close to God from a young age until breath was no longer in his lungs. What a testimony! Too be clear Samuel did not live a sinless life. He was in no way perfect, far from it. Yet, Samuel understood that having a perspective of God’s great works impacts how we daily live for Him. At the end of his life his big “aha” was simple. When we consider the great things, God has done for us, we will serve Him faithfully and with all our heart.

Isn’t it easy to celebrate when life easy? To remember what God has done for us when what God has done is something that benefits us. However, it is a little more difficult to consider the great things of God when our perspective becomes what is happening to us or being withheld from us.

Unlike Samuel, the nation of Israel did not stay close to God. Their hearts wandered frequently to other gods, towards complacency, towards apathy, towards idle worship, and towards idolatry for worship. The people’s hearts ebbed and flowed. When their hearts turned away from God it was because their perspective of God had changed. Their attention was easily drawn to the culture around them. They wanted a god that they could see, feel, touch, and understand: a god made in their image with their hands.

Perspective drives focus. Focus drives action. If we want to stay committed to God, we must take Samuel’s advice:

1. Remember God’s great things

2. Fear the Lord

3. Serve Him with all your heart

This is a recipe for a better me in 2023!