Lessons from Abigail's Story

By Natasha Miller (c) 2022

Lessons from Abigail’s God Story

This year I was asked to be a guest on Her God Story podcast.  After my interview I was honored to be asked to write for the Her God Story 6-Week Devotional.  As a result, I wrote a week of devotionals dedicated to the story of Abigail.  Enjoy!  See link to full devotional below.

Day 1: The Power of Honor

Positioning Prayer: Heavenly Father, I deeply desire to walk in alignment with You and to know You. Teach me Your ways. Bless me with Understanding. Allow Your wisdom to guide my every thought, word, and deed. Thank you for speaking to me as I study your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 25:2-44

   My children have started to spontaneously honor me with their lips. I awake in the morning to their compliments and go to bed at night covered with their words of blessing. I never knew the power of this honor until I became the recipient of their positive words. 
Their compliments overwhelm me and give me energy to do more and more for them. They have learned that they experience an energetic smiling Mommy when they fill their mouths with honor.   

   Honor shifts relationships and situations. When we choose to honor, peace invades and everything moves in a positive life-giving direction. Dishonor causes the opposite results: destruction, devastation, and death. Abigail’s story emphasizes the power of honor.

   David, while living in the wilderness, had been protecting Nabal’s shepherds and flocks to such an extent that he and his men were described as a “wall” that provided such protection that the shepherds “were not hurt nor did [they] miss anything.” Instead of raiding the flocks for food, he preserved them and the shepherds and sheep flourished. David honored Nabal and literally created wealth for him without asking for anything in return. This is an example of sacrificial wealth-creating honor. 

   Then, during a Feast Day, David via representatives asked Nabal for some food. Nabal’s response was dishonorable, disrespectful, and insulting. His response was such a slap in the face that David armed 400 of his men to kill every male in Nabal’s family. Nabal’s dishonor was about to bring death, devastation, and destruction upon Nabal’s household. 

   Fortunately, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, had an honorable servant who witnessed the exchange, knew it was wrong, and reported it to Abigail. The brave servant honored David and his men by reporting to Abigail the truth. This is an example of honor brought about by taking the role of an advocate of truth.

   Abigail, being a woman of honor, worked in haste to correct her husband’s wrong. Knowing his dishonorable state of mind, she did not consult him. She did the right thing by quickly gathering food and jumping on a donkey to intercept David. She honored David with her behavior by “[falling] on her face before David and [bowing] down on the ground.” She complimented him with her lips and stated the truth about Nabal’s behavior. She pleaded for forgiveness, spoke into David’s destiny, and reminded him of God’s hand over his life. This tidal wave of honor changed David’s heart from that of a killer to that of a soft man of God. David’s heart was now full of respect towards Abigail and not murder. Honor is powerful. 

   Honor generates wealth, protects, advocates, and changes hearts. When we walk in it, blessings rise to the surface.  Honor is powerful.

Activating Prayer: Lord, I desire to be a person on honor! I repent for every time I have not been honorable. I desire to live by Your standards. Please, Lord, bless me with the understanding of honor and how to integrate it in my life. In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

To read all Her God Story's 6 weeks of devotionals, click here. 

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(Photo by Anthony Roberts)