John Grant, Week Six, 2021

The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:37

These past few months have been difficult for all of us, one way or another. Some have had health problems and even death in their families. Others have lost employment or even the business they had worked so hard to build up.

Difficulties hound all of us throughout our lives and they have since Eve bit into the apple. As I have looked around and talked with people recently, I have noticed they face their difficulties in a myriad of ways.

How to face our difficulties is illustrated multiple times in the Bible, but no better example there is better than the story of David and Goliath.

David and Goliath

The Israelites and the Philistines were at war with one another. The Philistines greatest weapon was not mechanical. It was human… a great big giant named Goliath. He could kill anyone.

Here’s what we learn from this story:

▪ The battle is the Lord’s and He will provide.

▪ David ran into the battle and not from it.

▪ David used what he had and did not lament over what he did not have.

I can’t help but to think how David victoriously faced Goliath. Fighting this overwhelming giant in the name of the Lord. Fighting and winning for God’s glory. Fighting and winning in God’s strength.

As we face our giants, as we face our fears and our concerns, as we face what life throws our way, let’s try to stand as David stood. Stand with strength and confidence in the Lord. I know that it is far easier said than done. We can see that in the fear and trepidation of all the other warriors who heard and saw Goliath. But David stood strong. Strong in the Lord. An example of how we can and should face our Goliath, knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Remember to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”

As you face your Goliath, give Jesus your burdens and your fears, concerns, issues, illnesses… Trust in Him and He can and will give you peace beyond understanding and confidence, courage and strength to face your Goliath, with stones and sling in hand… “For the battle is the Lord’s.”

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

In America’s Expiration Date, Cal Thomas makes this prophetic statement: “Given the history of other empires and great nations, the decadence that now is tightening its grip on America almost guarantees our demise, or at the very least a radical decline that will leave the country devoid of the liberties we now enjoy, but are rapidly exchanging for a license to do whatever we wish.”

God destroyed the nation of Israel because of its sins (Amos 9:8). The less we fear divine judgment, the more we should (cf. v. 10). If a tiny virus can bring the world’s greatest superpower to its knees, what about the judgment of an omnipotent and holy God?

But as we discern and grieve for the sins of our nation, we must remember that it is always too soon to give up on God. And never too late to intercede for a mighty movement of His Spirit.

Methodist minister Samuel Chadwick wrote, “Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”

Will you make Satan tremble today?

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Live by faith, not by fear. Ken Whitten

Waiting is like putting your gear in neutral when you feel like stripping your gears. Howard Hendrix

God doesn’t call a machine or artificial intelligence to do His work, He just calls people like you and me if we are truly His disciples. Dwight Short

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages. George Washington

While we were wishing for a return to the old normal, God wants to create a clean heart and a new normal. Why not let Him? Dwight Short

When the prayer police come through your neighborhood, will you be arrested for spending too much time on your knees?

Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential. Winston Churchill