“Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.” – II Samuel 2:21
REFERENCE:
Many of us are hustlers on the fast lane, like Asahel, always pursuing something. Asahel was a chaser and a hustler; he had the speed of a deer and thought he could catch whatever he chased. You may be divinely gifted with speed, quickness of mind, and the ability to pursue and catch things; that does not mean you are to chase everything. Chase only the things God has ordained for you, lest you exert yourself in futility or, like Asahel, it ends in a disaster or negatively. He was fast-footed, ran fast, but unfortunately, ran headlong to his death.
What was Asahel pursuing? What was he looking for after the battle had turned in favor of his side: Prestige, fame, or honor? All these blinded him to the danger that came with what he fervently pursued. One sure way to pierce yourself through with sorrow is to pursue what looks fanciful but is not of God. When our pursuit is motivated by greed, pride, selfish ambition, or a desire to amass things for ourselves, we expose ourselves to the devil and become easy prey. We become blinded to the dangers inherent in our pursuit (deal, contract, relationship, or job).
Abner was a skilled and professional soldier. He was the captain of King Saul’s army but Asahel did not seem to consider all that. His eyes must have been on what would accrue to him – hanging Abner’s sword on his wall, a medal of honor from the king, women composing heroic songs about him, etc. He did not see the other side of his lofty dreams of heroism. Test your motives and consider what you pursue. If you only see medals on your wall or yourself sitting behind a large desk in a big office but fail to see the likely danger or cost, you may end up piercing your heart, resulting in heartbreak. (I Timothy 6:10).
God may, in His mercy and love, keep you from getting some things so you don’t end up like Asahel. Abner told Asahel to go to some younger soldier and not follow after him, but he would not; he wanted the ‘big league.’ We should grow with God in our ambition, faith, and goals so we don’t set ourselves up to fail. Asahel had fast legs but a slow wit; his legs were quicker than his brain, and it cost him his life. “What are you running hard after?” “Are you pursuing things meant for you, things God wants for you?” “What are you pursuing?”
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
II Timothy 4:7, Judges 14:1-3 & Romans 9:16
PRAYER POINTS
+ Lord, I no longer want to waste my time pursuing things that are not Your will and plan for me. Strengthen me to drop everything I am chasing that is not of God.
+ Help me understand Your plan and purpose for my life with clarity, and grant me grace for the race – Paul said I labor more than the other apostles, yet not I but the grace of God.
+ As I pursue Your plan for my life, like the apostle Paul, I will finish my race and fight the good fight. I will achieve, accomplish, become, marry, have children…e.tc., in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Help me Lord to forever be chasing after You, Your will and purpose, keep my heart and desires clean always 🙏🏽
🎶I’ll forever be chasing after YOU…….🎵
Amen and Amen. May that be the desire of us all.
Lord, I ask for the doggedness to stay in pursuit of the things you have called me to accomplish for Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name
Amen 🙏🏽
AMEN 🙏🏽
Wean me off appetites, pursuit and the chasing after of ungodly ambitions, pleasures and rewards.
Dear Lord, give me the boldness to walk away from any offer, ambition, enterprise, etc that no longer aligns with your purpose for my life. Help me not to use all my energy chasing after things that don’t matter in your plans for my life🙌
Lord, help me to know the race You have set before me and only run that race.. May I never engage in pursuits that are misaligned with Your will for my life.