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1) In one story David is clearly trusting God to keep him safe in a very difficult situation. In the next, David is relying on his own plan to keep himself safe. It involves a lot of lying and living under a foreign king.

2) In the first story, David is able to carry himself with integrity and confidence, and even spares Saul's life when it could be snuffed out without anyone even knowing. 3) In the second story, David must say things he does not mean, he must cover up his daily activities, and he is a man without allies (he is playing both sides of the war).

4) When God is first: a) we fear nothing. b) we don't have secrets. c) our lives are marked by mercy and grace.

5) When we put ourselves first: a) we know fear. b) we must "create" reality - lie to ourselves and others. c) our lives become cruel and destructive

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Application - What will it mean to live with God as our anchor this week?

1) Our world has changed, and continues to change (Stock market roller coaster, Price of copper, Huge drought in Africa)
2) Your personal world is in a constant state of change
(Kids are going back to school/college, stock market instability, relationships change)
3) In the midst of it all, God calls you to "build your house on a rock."
(Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.