Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 4, 2022
Read 1 Samuel 17:34-49
34 “Your servant has kept his father’s sheep,” David replied to Saul, “and if ever a lion or a bear came and carried off one of the flock, 35 I would go after it, strike it, and rescue the animal from its mouth. If it turned on me, I would grab it at its jaw, strike it, and kill it. 36 Your servant has fought both lions and bears. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them because he has insulted the army of the living God. 37 “The LORD,” David added, “who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears, will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.” “Go!” Saul replied to David. “And may the LORD be with you!” 38 Then Saul dressed David in his own gear, putting a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David strapped his sword on over the armor, but he couldn’t walk around well because he’d never tried it before. “I can’t walk in this,” David told Saul, “because I’ve never tried it before.” So he took them off. 40 He then grabbed his staff and chose five smooth stones from the streambed. He put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag and with sling in hand went out to the Philistine. 41 The Philistine got closer and closer to David, and his shield-bearer was in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked David over, he sneered at David because he was just a boy; reddish brown and good-looking. 43 The Philistine asked David, “Am I some sort of dog that you come at me with sticks?” And he cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said to David, “and I’ll feed your flesh to the wild birds and the wild animals!” 45 But David told the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of heavenly forces, the God of Israel’s army, the one you’ve insulted. 46 Today the LORD will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head! Today I will feed your dead body and the dead bodies of the entire Philistine camp to the wild birds and the wild animals. Then the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel’s side. 47 And all those gathered here will know that the LORD doesn’t save by means of sword and spear. The LORD owns this war, and he will hand all of you over to us.” 48 The Philistine got up and moved closer to attack David, and David ran quickly to the front line to face him. 49 David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone. He slung it, and it hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
Good Morning, Can you feel the power of the Lord?
The story of David and Goliath has been used as a children’s message for so many. It’s easy to start reading it and say, “Oh, I know this story,” and leave it as the message we read as children. Does it have value to us, the grown-ups in the room? I believe that there are many messages that we can glean from this story: the confidence of David, the need to use what we know and have when challenged, and the understanding that God will lead us through our adversity. This morning I want to share with you my thoughts on the second idea.
Each of us faces adversity in our lives and the way we handle ourselves is different depending upon the circumstances. Small challenges can usually be handled without much thought as we put our heads down and push through the problem. Think about an approaching deadline for which you must submit your work. No matter what else gets in the way, you must get it done, with no excuses. Most of us receive much practice at this level of challenge as we go through our education, and most of us learn how to better manage our time.
What about those mid-level challenges that we face in our lives? Perhaps, financial struggles or problems with a boss or a spouse. This type of challenge may require us to create a plan to guide us through our “opportunity” for growth. No one enjoys facing challenges that stretch us beyond our own comfort zone.
Then there are those catastrophic challenges: those challenges for which we see no answer, or no way out. What now? Do we run away and hide, or lock ourselves in a room? Maybe that is our first response even if only in a metaphorical sense. David shows us in his willingness to face Goliath, that he was willing to face this impossible challenge without doubts.
Remember my second thought in the opening paragraph: the need to use what we know and have when challenged. David was offered the suit of protection that warriors used, but he realized that this would hinder him and not help him because he didn’t have experience using it. Instead, he gathered the tools for protection that he was accustomed to using. His choice seemed unlikely to make a difference when facing such adversity, but these were tools that he had relied upon many times.
When we are faced with those impossible problems, what tools do we have to overcome our difficulties? Our greatest tool might seem to a non-believer as improbable as David’s stones and leather strap. Our greatest tool is our faith in God and the power that we glean from reading the Word. Each prayer, each Bible verse, and each time of reflection are tools that we are gathering and holding in our hands, our souls. Our time with God when things are calm becomes our training ground so that when we face adversity we are ready with the tools we know. God does not promise us an easy life without challenges, but God does promise to be with us always, no matter how impossible our challenges appear.
May we become like David, filled with confidence in the power of our Lord, and face our adversities with the love and grace of God as our armor. Our final victory comes when we believe in Jesus, our Lord, and Savior.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We face so many challenges, and some of them scare us. Help us feel your strength and power! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God is my strength and my stronghold
Feel the Power! Rejoice! Pastor Liz
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