A prayer to help you wait for God's yes by Maggie Meadows Cooper, read by Liam Arden.

This is not the one the Lord has chosen, 1 Samuel 168.

There have been so many times in my life, I've sought direction from the Lord, choosing a school, finding my husband, waiting on a job, or deciding if I should help with a ministry.

And there were so many times he said, this is not the one, and closed a door.

In truth, I wanted to jump ahead, make that decision, and be done with it.

I made a few choices that didn't end well.

His grace and mercy, over time, he showed me that if I didn't wait on his yes, it wouldn't be his best.

In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel has been sent to anoint the next king of Israel.

He's with Jesse in front of seven of his sons.

The first son steps forward, but Samuel says, this is not the one the Lord has chosen.

The next steps forward, but Samuel says, neither is this, the one the Lord has chosen.

This happens with five more sons, and Samuel says, the Lord has not chosen any of these.

Now, y'all, I think by the time we got to son four, I might have tried to talk the Lord into choosing him, it'd be done with it, but Samuel didn't.

He persisted and asked, are these all the sons you have, and they weren't?

There was one more, David.

Now, what if Samuel had stopped?

What if he hadn't been obedient and patient, faithful enough to wait?

What if he hadn't persisted in seeking the Lord's best?

What if?

But because of his obedient heart, he did.

David was brought in, and the Lord said, this is the one, anoint him.

It took eight tries, eight, y'all, and it was worth it.

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