21 Days of Prayer - Day 12

My rough (really rough) sketch of Hoot Owl Hollow

"It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."(1 Chron. 14:15)


               I'm working on a third Christian storybook for families, Hoot Owl Hollow. This very rough sketch is vastly different from the beautiful, watercolor paintings by Cami Monet Webb and Donny Finley in The Schoolhouse and Secrets of Shiloh.

               In a recent devotion by Os Hillman, I was reminded that God is magnificently creative with novel game plans that may differ from past strategies. When the Philistine army made a raid on the valley of Rephaim, David inquired of the Lord saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines?" Then the Lord answered him, "Go up, for I will give them into your hand" (1 Chron. 14:9-10).
               Just three verses later, Scripture records that when the Philistines made yet another raid in the valley, David inquired of the God again, and God said, "You shall NOT go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees." David did just as God had commanded him, and they stuck down the army of the Philistines (1 Chron. 13:14,16)!
                In Bible story after Bible story, we learn that King David never lost a battle. The key to his success? He inquired of the Lord and then obeyed God's commands. David refused to assume God's instructions, but instead, sought and followed the Lord every single time!

               Whether I am to sketch the illustrations for Hoot Owl Hollow or not, I don't know. However, I resolve to inquire of the Lord before each step and obey whatever He tells me to do, in Jesus' name!

                My friends, I urge you to also inquire of the Lord in each and every one of your endeavors and do just as Jesus Christ commands you to do! For He is able, through His mighty power, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or even imagine (Eph. 3:20)!