Last night, as I knelt in prayer, the Holy Spirit whispered something into my heart—something so simple, yet profoundly life-changing: Before anything else, ask God first.

How often do we, as women, carry the weight of our families, our marriages, our dreams, and our battles, only to remember afterward to bring it before the Lord? How many times have we made plans, taken steps, and even fought wars in our hearts, only to later ask God to bless what we already decided?

Sisters, my heart was deeply moved as I thought about this, and the Lord reminded me of a man who truly sought after God’s heart—David.

David’s Strength Was in Seeking God First

In 1 Samuel 30:4-8, we find David in one of the most heartbreaking moments of his life. He and his men returned to their camp only to find devastation. The Amalekites had raided their home, taken their wives, their children, and all they owned. Can you imagine that kind of pain?

The Bible tells us that David and his men wept until they had no strength left to cry. Their grief was unbearable. And in their anguish, David’s own men turned against him, threatening to stone him.

But instead of giving in to fear or rushing into action, David did something extraordinary—he turned to God.

He didn’t gather his men and chase after the enemy on impulse. He didn’t let his emotions drive him. Instead, he called for the priest and asked God:

"Should I chase after them? Will I recover what was taken?"

And God answered him clearly:

"Chase them. You will surely recover everything."

Sisters, this story stirs something deep within me. As women, we are often the first to react when our loved ones are in trouble. We fight for our children, our homes, our marriages, and our futures. And yet, how often do we first pause, breathe, and ask the One who holds our every tomorrow?

When We Don’t Ask First

As I reflected on David’s story, I asked myself: How many times have I rushed into a battle that God never intended for me to fight?

There are prayers I have prayed, wars I have waged, and struggles I have endured that, had I simply asked God first, I could have avoided. Have you ever felt that way?

Perhaps you fought for a relationship that God was asking you to release. Perhaps you held onto a job, an opportunity, or even a dream that wasn’t meant for you. Perhaps you spent years asking God to fix something when all along, He was waiting for you to ask, “Lord, what is YOUR will?”

The Holy Spirit gently reminded me that sometimes, we don’t receive answers because we never truly asked God what He wanted in the first place. We assumed. We acted. And we asked Him to bless the plan we created.

But, my dear sister, there is a better way.

A Woman Who Asks God First

Going forward, I want to be a woman who pauses to ask. A woman who doesn’t just pray for what I think is best, but who seeks the heart of God before I even begin.

What if, before making that difficult decision, we knelt and asked, “Lord, what do YOU want?”

What if, before reacting in anger or fear, we took a deep breath and whispered, “God, lead me.”

What if, instead of carrying the burden of making everything work, we let go and trusted that His plans are always better than ours?

My Challenge to You, Beautiful Sister

Today, I want to lovingly challenge you to do something that could change your life:

Make "asking first" your new habit.

No matter how big or small, before you decide, before you act, and even before you pray for a specific outcome—pause and ask God first.

Three Key Truths to Hold Close:

1. Ask First, Act Later: Take a moment to enquire of God before making decisions. His wisdom will protect you from unnecessary pain.
2. Trust His Will, Not Just Your Feelings: Sometimes what feels right to us is not what is best. Trust in His perfect plan.
3. Learn from David: He was victorious not because he was strong, but because he sought God’s heart first.

Let’s Walk This Journey Together

My dear sister, you are not alone in this. The Father sees you. He hears you. And He is waiting for you to come to Him first.

Will you join me in making this a lifestyle?

I believe that as we commit to this, we will begin to see doors open that we never imagined. We will find peace in the middle of uncertainty. We will walk in alignment with the perfect will of our loving Father.

And like David, we will know without a doubt that when we ask first, He will always lead us to victory.

With love,
Khathu Maphala