AGAINST ALL ODDS
“And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and he will give you to us!" ... Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
1 Samuel 17:47, 49 (NLT)
The story of David and Goliath is familiar to most people, but it has an interesting point that’s easy to miss. The crowd gathered to watch as this boy prepared to take on the giant. When David declares that God is powerful enough that he doesn’t need a sword or spear, the battle belongs to God, in His way. What a wonderful declaration to make, and so amazing to see God follow through and do just that. We can live in that promise in our daily lives.
Have you ever felt like you knew the right way to handle a situation? There was no need to involve God; you knew what to do. I’ve had that happen many times in my life. One moment in particular stands out. I had to have a meeting with someone, and I knew it would be a difficult one. I had rehearsed everything I was going to say and knew how it should go. Once the meeting began, the temperature rose and the conversation became heated. I hadn’t sought God in what I was doing, and it showed. After this meeting, I went to God and prayed about it, and He showed me how I should’ve handled it and how He would be part of the solution, without the anger and frustration. I went back to the person and apologized, and we worked through it, with God in the middle of it, in His way.
We must always go to God in prayer and seek His path for us. Only then can we discern what He has for our next steps.
APPLICATION: This week, ask God to show you a person as He sees them and to help you understand how He will be a part of the solution. Let that guide your interactions with that person.
PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for fighting for us. Please help us to remember that the battle belongs to You, and those ways are perfect. Thank You for loving us. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?