{ Day 261 }

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. —Ephesians 4:2-6

The Lord told David to go to Hebron and only take a little bit of the kingdom. There were twelve tribes of Israel, and Hebron represented only one. God was testing and training David once again. He wanted David to find his identity in God, not in being king of Israel. Therefore, God only released a partial fulfillment of the full destiny promised to him. God will do this to us, too. It’s an agonizing experience, but it builds incredible patience in us. David spent seven more years limited to the city of Hebron. Still, he didn’t become angry with God for making him wait through another season of testing. He knew the Lord would give him all of Israel when it was time. He was after the perfect will of God and would not settle for less. The only reason David could act this way lay in his identity: being king of Israel was not the key to his sense of importance. And we too will triumph in the lesson of Hebron when we see we are already successful before God and don’t strive for success before men by going after position and honor.

{ PRAYER STARTER }

Teach me, Father, that the accumulation of blessings that You have brought into my life pale in importance to the intimate relationship You long to share with me. Let me dwell in Hebron, the place of partial fulfillment of Your destiny for me, content to find my identity in You and You alone.

God wants you to find your identity
in God, not in earthly success.