Have you experienced loss or destruction in any area of you life? In those times did you feel as if you were being pursued or attacked by the enemy?

David, described in Scripture as a man after God's own heart, faced times of great trials in his life - experiencing heartache, devastation and loss. David's turning point came when he put his complete trust in God and stopped fleeing from the enemy. This resulted in total restoration of all his possessions, followed by his ascension to Israel's throne as king.

Total recovery of what the enemy has stolen from you is part of God's promise of provision. Powerful keys are found in the Word of God that can help you recover all the enemy has stolen. A wonderful example of how to turn your situation around and recover all is depicted in the life of King David. If it seems as if the enemy has been pursuing you, like David, it's time to stop running and start reigning!

It is time you experience total recovery! Keys to total recovery:

1. Praise God in your situation. As a young man, David experienced God's favor when he courageously killed a lion and a bear while tending his father's sheep. He was appointed as the chief musician for King Saul and was deeply loved by the King. As a shepherd boy he rescued his nation from tyranny when he toppled Goliath, the giant, on the battlefield and defeated the Philistines. Later, however, the honor David had enjoyed at the hand of King Saul turned to resentment and he was eventually driven from his own country by the King. As his circumstances grew worse, the Amalekites plundered his city and his wives were taken prisoners, along with all his possessions. In the midst of such trying circumstances, his trusted friends, whom he had sheltered, turned against him and threatened to stone him. When things were at their worst and with nowhere to turn, David's faith in God remained steadfast, for the Scripture declared…"but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God!" (1 Samuel 30:6)
   
   
2. Pray a prayer of agreement for God's direction. David said to Abiathar, the priest and Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And he answered him, "Pursue for thou shalt surely overtake them, without fail recover all." (1 Samuel 30:7-8) David prayed a prayer of agreement with the man of God, asking God for direction. He was strongly inclined to recover his wives and all that was dear to him. Yet, he chose not to act without prayerfully asking for God's direction - demonstrating his dependence upon God and his willingness to submit to His will. In answer to his prayer, God not only confirmed what David was to do, but also gave him the assurance of total recovery.
   
   
3. Pursue the enemy. "So David went, he and six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor." (1 Samuel 30:9-10) David demonstrated his faith and dependence on God when he chose to continue. Although his forces had been reduced by one third, he clung to God's promise that as he pursued the enemy, he would overtake them and recover all!
   
   
4. Penetrate the enemy's camp. "And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating, drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah." (1 Samuel 30:16) As David pursued the enemy, he and his 400 men came upon a poor Egyptian who had been left to die by the Amalekites. When David observed the young Egyptian was scarcely alive, he gave him bread and water, along with a cake of figs and some raisins. After the young Egyptian had finished eating, he began to explain how he had been left behind by the Amalekites after becoming ill. He continued by describing the place the Amalekites had invaded before abandoning him along the way as well as where they were going to go. When David inquired about the location of the enemy, the man agreed to lead David and his men to their campsite in exchange for his safety. As David and his men approached the camp, they found the Amalekites eating, drinking and dancing as they celebrated their victory. Having put aside all thoughts of war, the Amalekites surveyed their plunder as they rejoiced over their success. Taking them off guard, David surprised the Amalekites as he penetrated their camp. Because the Amalekites were unprepared, David and his 400 men subdued them quickly, killing all but 400 who were able to escape during the conflict. When the struggle had ended, all the spoils were recovered, including David's two wives. Though the enemy had preserved everything for their own use, all the spoils were returned to their rightful owners. Everything was recovered just as God's Word to David had promised, for the Scriptures declares: "And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great. Neither sons nor daughters, neither spoils nor anything that they had taken to them: David recovered all." (1 Samuel 30:19)
   
   
5. Celebrate your victory through giving. When David came to Ziklog, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, "Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord." (1 Samuel 30:26) David celebrated his victory through giving. The way in which he chose to distribute the spoils posed a sharp contrast to that of the Amalekites, who used it for their own pleasure and desires. David disposed of the spoils in a very different way, choosing to distribute them among the four hundred men who had accompanied him in battle, as well as to those who had remained at the brook Besor. David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drove before those other cattle and said, "This is David's spoil." And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them. (1 Samuel 30:20-21) Some of David's soldiers were greedy and didn't want to share the spoil with those who remained behind; honoring them in the same way as those who had fought by his side when he penetrated the camp of the Amalekites and conquered them. David treated the 600 men the same, for David said: "For who will hearken unto you in this matter? But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike." (1 Samuel 30:24) It's interesting to note the details in the way David honored God as he dispersed the spoil - for he recognized that without God's help, he and his company of men would not have recovered the spoil nor prevailed over the Amalekites. He also demonstrated principles of wisdom and generosity that would make him a great king.

He gave in gratitude to God, acting as a good steward of the spoil that had been recovered. He gave in justice to them, dividing the spoil equally among the six hundred men. Scripture records that David sent part of "the spoil of the enemies of the Lord" to his friends - the leaders of Judah and to all the places from which he and his men had received assistance, intelligence or provisions. A very significant aspect of how David celebrated his victory by giving is revealed in the list of places where part of the spoil was sent.

I have always maintained that there are no meaningless details in the Bible and I find it interesting that the first place mentioned is Bethel. Bethel was the place where the Ark of the Covenant was located at that time; therefore, it was considered the House of God. When David experienced total recovery and recovered all, according to God's promise, he sent the first and best of the spoil to Bethel, symbolic of the House of God. God's promise was fulfilled as "David recovered all…and there was nothing lacking nor anything they had taken." 1 Samuel 30:19 Everything the enemy had stolen was recovered!

In order to receive your total recovery, here are five steps to victory:

1. Encourage yourself in the Lord, your God, through your faith in Him.
2. Pray the prayer of agreement and believe God for your recovery.
3. Pursue the enemy in prayer.
4. Penetrate the enemy's camp through confession of God's promises.
5. Celebrate your victory through giving.

The Word of God declares: "God is not a respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34) What God did for David, He will do for you.
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