Have You Seen This Man?
The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. (I Samuel 17:37)
I Sam. 17:32-37; Ps. 3:1-6, 20:6-8; Isa. 12:2; II Cor. 1:10; II Tim. 4:18
What Is God Saying?
David faced a challenge that terrified a whole army. What little strength was left in their knees was used to run away. What little breath they had was used to say, "Have you seen this man?" Goliath wore 150 pounds of armor and wielded a spear whose head weighed four pounds more than a bowling ball. What kind of person would or could go into battle with that much weight on them? It would have to be someone who had no intention of running away. But David had a secret weapon against which even this giant would be powerless. David had trust in the living God. Goliath could defy the army of Israel, but he could not engage the God of Israel in battle when God had a person who trusted Him.
David went to the battle armed only with a sling, stones, and faith in God. Goliath said, "Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?" David responded, "For all your boasting, you have brought with you the wrong weapons. I come in the name of the Lord of hosts." (17:45)
How Does This Apply To Us?
God, who has fought for us in the past, will do it again. That is an important source of confidence. When we have done something well in the past, do we not feel a surge of confidence when called upon to do it again? Doing something difficult for the first time makes us ill at ease and afraid. It is the feeling a pilot has when suddenly told by the instructor that it's their turn to fly solo. But they have done it with the teacher at their side and can do it again.
Pray With Me
Strong Deliverer! God of all grace and power, let the victories You have given in the past bring me encouragement. Let me be so sure of Your presence and power that I can face any enemy without discouragement and fear. In my weakness, You are strong.
By trusting in the living God, David moved from victory to victory. So I will meet the future with trust. David knew Your deliverance from the beast's paw and believed in Your deliverance from the hand of Goliath. So will I be fortified by the experience of the past and by faith for the future. David went forward knowing his reach should exceed his grasp, and You honored his faith. He was not content merely to remember the past. So You gave him the future.
As you did David, help me to remember the past as a foundation for courage, never as an excuse for pride. More difficult challenges await me than those I have faced as yet. Your grace rises with the need until, through Christ, I am more than a conqueror.
In His name, whose strength is made perfect in weakness. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Peace does not come from running away from the front lines. It comes from trusting God on the front lines. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are praying in the strength of Jesus, for the sake of Jesus, and for the glory of Jesus. We are "more than conquerors through him who loved us." He has done it before. He is doing it now. He will do it for us and with us again and again.
