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Welcome back, guys! I’m pretty excited to pick up where we left off last week on the Life of David. (Go back and give last week’s episode a listen, if you missed it!) I gave a little introduction of all the good stuff this series covers and we jumped in to the first season of David’s life on record: Anointing.

It’s the perfect place to begin. It represents a pivotal moment that changes the trajectory of David’s life... and, don’t we all have that? At least one big, life-changing thing that lays the groundwork for our whole future?? And this may not be surprising to anyone at this point but.. it’s usually the unexpected! When God anoints you and calls you to something greater than yourself...buckle up. It means you’re in for a wild, sometimes difficult, but always beautiful ride. Last week we learned that anointing always comes with an assignment. So this next season of David’s life that I’m calling “The Early Years” represents the next leg of preparation for his journey. And, whether we see it or not, our own early years are almost certainly going to be the preparation we need to take us into the next place. Full of trials and oftentimes, a waiting period, the early years are foundational to God’s leading you into your assignment.

There’s a lot to cover today so let’s jump in and learn a little more about David’s early years. Beginning in 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (After David was anointed by Samuel and King Saul lost God’s anointing).

Anointing is attached to assignment.

Anointing is followed by preparation.

And Anointing draws attention.

The Early Years Prepare your character.

And the Early Years prepare your gifts..

Anointing is followed by preparation. Early Years of preparation bring out your giftings. These years put you through trials. These years increase your faith. And, if done well, this time deepens your intimacy with God. Think about some of David's trials: out in those fields, David fought bears and lions. But he wasn't alone in those trials..he defeated them with God's anointed strength. This built not only his trust in the Lord but also grew his faith. His character was changing. His strength was growing. His

faith was building. AND...in the midst of it all... He was out there worshiping. Playing instruments and writing songs of praise. His giftings were being honed. The very giftings that brought him before the king. And here's the cherry on top: He was known by others as a man who knew God.. literally the men in court recommending him to Saul said "the Lord is with him." Gosh. What if that's how people described you? A genuine heart for God and life lived for Him will speak for itself. What a testimony!

We can all learn a little something from David's life... These early years were the ones that prepared him. Just as early years prepare us.. David didn't know what the future would hold for him. He was just a boy when he was anointed and told He would be king. That's all he knew. He didn't know when or how it would happen... He simply had to rely on the Lord's strength and timing to see it unfold. And maybe that's how you feel today. Like God put something in your heart and you know you're anointed for it. Maybe you don't know how it will happen or when but your spirit feels that pull. Let this be your encouragement today. That anointing will be followed with preparation. Don't fight it. Let God refine you in it. Let Him lead you through it.. because that preparation may bring you before kings (metaphorically of course). That anointing and preparation may put you in rooms with people you could have never imagined. Lean into it and listen for His voice..