Tuesday the 1st

1 Samuel 17:  ⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

 

Everyone Loves the story of David and Goliath. Who wouldn’t really….The underdog wins right? What a deal! While the story is always lauded about how you can overcome any obstacle, and in the name of the Lord, I believe that yes, you can. The story that is often missed is how David did what no one else was willing to do. The taunting by Goliath did not go on for a couple of days. It went on for weeks on end. Yet not one man among Saul’s army could find the strength in themselves, or the faith in the Lord to step out there, and fight Goliath. Saul would have had a champion, it was common during those days for an entire battle to be decided by the outcome of the champions battle. Yet Saul’s was no where to be found. Could you imagine, this champion would have been afforded the best armor, the sharpest sword, the strongest shield….yet come the day of battle he was nowhere to be found. Yet David, a simple kid, steps out onto the battlefield. Yes we would all like to be like David…..but are we willing to step out onto a battlefield that not one of our friends is willing to tread? I know that it is much easier to be like the champion that never showed. When we look at our spiritual life, we amass the best in all of our gear, the highest quality. We go after the best education we can get, we spend our time in prayer, we do everything we can to show how faithful we are…….but when Goliath shows up, it is far easier to group up with the other well trained, well armed people and talk about how Goliath should be defeated, yet we don’t want to be the one to go out and do it. It is not a knock against any of us, it is human. That is what made what David did, so amazing. It was not the fact that he killed Goliath. It is the fact that all he took out there was his faith, a sling, and a few rocks. It must have looked very much like showing up to a gunfight with a knife. Yet David knew that the Lord was with him. Don’t you just love that phrase. The Lord was with him…….and he knew it. David prayed for rain, AND he carried an umbrella! David’s prayers were not prayed for religious purposes. David prayed expecting them to be answered. David did not step out onto the battlefield worried about the outcome, he stepped out knowing that the Lord was with him, and the he would be victorious. David did not step out to spite his brothers, or to show off for Saul. David stepped out because he could not comprehend any other thing to do. Nothing else made sense. That is what it is to be David. You live your life knowing that the Lord is with you, you will step out onto the battlefield each and everyday to face Goliath, not because you have to, but because that is what you are built for. It is not a matter of beating Goliath, that part is already taken care of. It is a matter of being ready to do what no one else will do. It is not a matter of getting to Goliath, it is a matter of getting past the other Israelites! People will always tell you it can’t be done, they will want to have long talks about all of the things that might be done instead, or all of the reasons why it should not be done. Pick up your sling and head out onto the field, for the Lord is with you. Today, tomorrow, and everyday.  Shel Silverstein said it well:  Listen to Mustn’ts, child, listen to the Don’ts. Listen to the Shouldn’ts, the Impossibles, the Won’ts. Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me. Anything can happen, child, Anything can be. 

With the Lord at your side nothing can stop you, nothing is impossible, even slaying the giant in your life.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com