Category: Provision

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Lead On

May I ask? Were you a good follower yesterday or did you try to jump out and take the lead? Were there decisions you made that left you feeling uneasy, even anxious?

If so, I have good news for you.

“You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
2 You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
3     and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
and you lead me
    along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod
    makes me feel safe.

5 You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
6 Your kindness and love
will always be with me
    each day of my life,
and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23

One of the most famous passages in the Bible starts with us being led to a good place and ends with us being followed by goodness and mercy. Goodness and mercy, kindness and love, are two characteristics that always, always, follow when the Shepherd leads.

Our good Shepherd will lead us to a place of safety and protection. His desire is to keep us in a place where He provides rest, refreshing, and restoration.

Jesus said:

“Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered, each to his own home. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me, and I will be alone. But I am never really alone, because the Father is with me. 33 ‘I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!'” John 16:32-33 ERV

“ A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

Those words above were spoken by Jesus while He was here on earth, involved in the day-to-day business of living life and being involved in the lives of the ordinary person. Jesus warned of enemies and troubling situations, but He also gave the reassurance that He has defeated them all.

King David addressed the issue of danger in Psalm 23. The valley of the shadow of death, enemies looking on and surprise attacks.

We can walk through life-threatening situations and be fearless because our Shepherd is there with His rod. That rod is used to drive off animals that would try to attack the sheep and it was also used to guide the sheep if they got too close to the edge of a cliff, a pit or the bank of a fast-flowing river.

When our enemies are lurking about, He prepares a banquet for us and has us seated at a table of refreshing. We have nothing to fear because He is always with us. The Father is always with us.

And finally, we are followed by goodness and mercy.

When a Shepherd walks in the lead it’s not uncommon to see his sheep dogs bringing up the rear. They aren’t there to frighten the sheep, but they are a rear guard, protecting the sheep from anything that may try to sneak up from behind.

Goodness and mercy. God’s love, forgiveness, compassion, peace follows us all the days of our lives.

Because of who our Shepherd is I say, “Lead On”, knowing that I can safely follow as He leads me down the right path.

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New Road Ahead

This morning, I was surprised to see a photo I had taken three years ago come up on my FB feed. Alot has happened since then.

Dave and I left our home in Rio Rico for a month of camping. We were excited to be taking most of the summer away. Little did we know that our lives were about to change in a dramatic way. Less than two weeks later we had been hired to camp host at Big Lake for the summer.

New friends, new adventures, new challenges and new ministry. God had set our course on a path we had only briefly thought about.

“ The steps of a good man are led by the Lord. And He is happy in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be thrown down, because the Lord holds his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 NLV

By the end of that summer we knew more changes were coming. We sold our home and moved into our RV. We were now fulltime RVers and were living closer to our daughters and smallest grandchildren.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

It was hard to imagine what those changes would mean. We have made so many new and wonderful friends during these past three years. Campers, co-workers, neighbors – the Lord has blessed our lives richly.

“The Lord guides our steps, and we never know where he will lead us.” Proverbs 20:24 ERV

We may not know the definite destination when the Lord begins to lead but we can be certain of one thing – it will be good!

“The Lord is my shepherd.  I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength.  He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.” Psalm 23:1-3 ERV

Maybe you feel the Lord leading you to something new or maybe you’re like us and were just off for a fun camping trip when new doors opened, don’t be afraid to follow His leading.

“ Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ERV

Trust the Lord and His goodness to lead you. You won’t be disappointed.

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Start With A Song

Less than ten minutes ago the only sound I heard was the song of a nightingale. It is such a sweet song, soft and soothing. They sing through the night and welcome the day.

Now at 4:37 a.m. the chorus has started. It’s still dark and the other birds have joined in song. Faintly, very faintly, is the nightingale while the others have taken the preeminence in the choir of praise.

I love starting the day with a song! It puts my heart at peace knowing that these creatures are cared for by our heavenly Father, and I have it on good authority that we are more valuable to Him than they are.

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?..31 Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these.” Matthew 6:25-32 CEV

My morning prayer time has been filled with requests from family and friends. Some with great medical needs which in turn create great financial needs; others have relationship issues that need God’s intervention. Others have been bombarded with one heartache after another and need peace.

“ If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 CEV

Some needs are as simple as a completed project, but they can weigh us down and cause us to fret; we have to guard against those as much as the weightier issues of life.

“Our Lord, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures…All of these depend on you to provide them with food, 28 and you feed each one with your own hand, until they are full…. As long as I live, I will sing and praise you, the Lord God. 34 I hope my thoughts will please you, because you are the one who makes me glad.” Psalm 104:24, 27-28, 33-34 CEV

The chorus outside my door is getting louder as more participants join in. I will stop writing now and join their song.

It is the Lord whose eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over you and me too!

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Hard to Believe

Yesterday I shared with you some of the reasons I get up each morning and praise God!

I’m sure that at least a few of you read some of those verses and said in your heart “That’s hard to believe”, because at one time, I felt just like that. I would hear sermons and read verses and go “that’s really good, I wish it worked for me like that”.

I was thinking on that very line when I picked up my Bible this morning and began to read. Here’s the first verse in my reading: “All you say can be trusted; your teachings are true and will last forever.” Psalm 119:60 CEV

Then a few verses down there was this: “You give peace of mind to all who love your Law. Nothing can make them fall. 166 You are my only hope for being saved, Lord, and I do all you command. 167 I love and obey your laws with all my heart.” Psalm 119:165-167 CEV

Now wait, “Our Lord, you keep your word  and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right, you provide them with food.” Psalm 135:13-15 CEV

The more I went on in my reading, the more I realized that God was confirming the strength and power of His word in the lives of each of us who call ourselves Christians, those of us who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; the One who saves us from our sins.

If you are in the group, and hope and pray that you are I have a couple more verses to share with you that were in my morning reading.

“I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 CEV

But that wasn’t the last verse that I read, there are still a couple more.

“The demon has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. Please have pity and help us if you can!” 23 Jesus replied, ‘Why do you say ‘if you can’? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!” 24 At once the boy’s father shouted, “I do have faith! Please help me to have even more.” Mark 9:22-24 CEV

This man’s son was demon possessed. He came to Jesus asking for help. The father said, “help if you can”. So many times, we are like that father asking Lord, if you can. He can and He will; we need to believe that He not only has the ability but the willingness. He is God and He keeps His word.

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6 CEV

Now, just one more for good measure. “34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not even married!” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. 37  Nothing is impossible for God!” 38 Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.” Luke 1:35-38 CEV

I know it’s hard to believe BUT God’s word does not fail – never has, never will!

There are so many more verses that I could direct you to that point to God’s faithfulness in keeping His word. He’s given all of them to us, so it won’t be hard to believe.

Just as the sun comes up every morning, the waves come to the shore, the earth spins on its axis, God’s word is infallible and is always true. The more we draw into relationship with Him, the more convinced (faith) we become that it’s “Hard to Believe” anything other than the Word of God.

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Surrounded

I always start my morning Bible reading in the Old Testament. This morning, I find myself in the book of Psalms. It’s such an encouraging way to start the day. The writers of the Psalms expressed their fears and their hopes, their sorrow and their joy and always they tell of their dependence on the Lord who is their strength, their joy, their refuge and their defense.

I find such encouragement in the Psalms – this morning I will refrain from my words and bring you God’s word for whatever you may be facing.

“I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers. 2 You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live. 3 Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, 4 I prayed and said, “Lord, please don’t let me die!”

5 You are kind, Lord, so good and merciful. 6 You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me 7 and treated me so kindly that I don’t need to worry anymore. 8 You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. 10 I was faithful to you when I was suffering, 11 though in my confusion I said, ‘I can’t trust anyone!’

12 What must I give you, Lord, for being so good to me? 13 I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. 14 I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. 15 You are deeply concerned when one of your loyal people
faces death.

16 I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. 17 I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. 18 I will keep my promise to you when your people 19 gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 116 CEV

Whether it’s physical, emotional, spiritual or financial death the attacks launched against us are real. The enemy can be seen or unseen; the threat of the termination of life, end of relationships, well-being or financial devastation are all things the Lord wants us to bring to Him.

“I look to the hills! Where will I find help? 2 It will come from the Lord, who created heaven and earth. 3 The Lord is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble.” Psalm 121:1-3 CEV

Look to the hills – that reminds me of the story of Elisha and his servant when they were surrounded by their enemies.

“‘Don’t be afraid,’ Elisha answered. ‘There are more troops on our side than on theirs.’ 17 Then he prayed, ‘Lord, please help him to see.‘ And the Lord let the servant see that the hill was covered with fiery horses and flaming chariots all around Elisha.” II Kings 6:16-17 CEV

The Lord wants us to “see” that even though the enemy may seem to surround us there are more troops on our side than on theirs. The Lord is our defense, and He surrounds us with His love!

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The Earth Is the Lord’s

Here in the desert the warm weather has awaken the cactus and the wild flowers. The whole earth seems to be blooming with beauty.

“The heavens and the earth belong to you. And so does the world with all its people because you created them 12 and everything else.” Psalm 89:11-12 CEV

All of creation points to the power of God.

“Sing a new song to the Lord!
Everyone on this earth,
    sing praises to the Lord,
2     sing and praise his name.

Day after day announce,
    ‘The Lord has saved us!’
3 Tell every nation on earth,
‘The Lord is wonderful
    and does marvelous things!
4 The Lord is great and deserves
    our greatest praise!
He is the only God
    worthy of our worship.
5 Other nations worship idols,
but the Lord created
    the heavens.
6 Give honor and praise
    to the Lord,
whose power and beauty
    fill his holy temple.’

7 Tell everyone of every nation,
‘Praise the glorious power
    of the Lord.
8 He is wonderful! Praise him
and bring an offering
    into his temple.
9 Everyone on earth, now tremble
and worship the Lord,
    majestic and holy.’

10 Announce to the nations,
    ‘The Lord is King!
The world stands firm,
    never to be shaken,
and he will judge its people
    with fairness.’

11 Tell the heavens and the earth
    to be glad and celebrate!
Command the ocean to roar
    with all its creatures
12 and the fields to rejoice
    with all their crops.
Then every tree in the forest
will sing joyful songs
13     to the Lord.
He is coming to judge
all people on earth
    with fairness and truth.” Psalm 96 CEV

Yesterday coming home from work I was mindful of the beauty that the Lord has created. The ocotillo with the bright red blossoms, the prickly pear with their fuchsia blooms and hills with their greenery and spray of orange and yellow wild flowers. All of this declares the power and glory of God.

When I see these things, I am also reminded that God in all His majesty is watching over me and protecting me with His love.

“The earth and everything on it, including its people, belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.” Psalm 24:1 CEV

I alluded to these verses yesterday but let me share them with you again today.

“ Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?

27 Can worry make you live longer? 28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. 29  But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. 30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. God will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?” Matthew 6:26-30 CEV

Look around at all the beauty that God has made and then look in the mirror. See that God cares for you more than all of the other things that have been created. God loves you!

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Name Above All Names

Sometimes in the quiet of the morning I just sit here and whisper the names of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Comforter, God Almighty, Messiah, Advocate, Emmanuel – God with us…and the list could go on and on.

Why so many names for our God and Father, Savior and Lord, Advocate and Counsellor?

“Our Lord and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above. 2 With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless. 3 I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place. 4 Then I ask, “Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?” 5 You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor.

6 You let us rule everything your hands have made. And you put all of it under our power—
7 the sheep and the cattle, and every wild animal, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and all ocean creatures. 9 Our Lord and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth!” Psalm 8 CEV

To the lost He said I am the Way; to the sick He is the Great Physician; for those in need He is El Shaddai (the provider); to the hungry He is the Bread of Life; to those living in darkness He is the Light of the World. For the soldier He is their defense and high tower; to those who are afraid He is the Prince of Peace.

When He asked the disciples who they thought He was they said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”!

To those who need forgiveness He is Savior; to everyone who needs deliverance He is Messiah; to the lonely He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

“Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. 10 So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord!’” Philippians 2:9-11 CEV

To all of creation He is the Great I Am, Lord God Almighty, Lord of Hosts and Mighty God. God told Moses that He should be known as “I AM”. God is ever present and He is everything we need. He is I AM.

“…But what should I say, if they ask me your name?”14-15  God said to Moses: I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord, whose name is “I Am,” has sent you. This is my name forever, and it is the name that people must use from now on.” Exodus 3:13-15 CEV

“I am,” means “I am the one who is” or “I will be what I will be” or “I am the one who brings into being.”

Jesus said when He left this earth the Heavenly Father would send us the Holy Spirit who remains with us forever.

“16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—” John 14:16 AMPC

If Jesus asked us today “who do you say I am”, what answer would we give? For me, I would say Savior, Lord and Friend.

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Why Was Friday Good?

Why is this Friday called Good? Good for whom?

The Road to the Cross stopped here. The sky was dark. The temple curtain was torn in two. The earth quaked. Jesus died.

“Then Jesus gave another loud cry and gave up His spirit and died.51 At once the curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks fell apart.” Matthew 27:50-51 NLV

Certainly, it wasn’t good for Jesus disciples and followers. They were crushed and brokenhearted by the events which had just taken place.

Good for Mary? She saw her Son brutally killed. No, it wasn’t good.

“When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, ‘Jesus must really have been a good man!’ 48 A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. 49  All of Jesus’ close friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.” Luke 223:47-49 CEV

“Jesus’ mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.” John 19:25-27 CEV

The devil probably thought it was a good day. The religious leaders and their council thought it was a good day.

“What we preach is God’s wisdom. It was a secret until now. God planned for us to have this honor before the world began. 8 None of the world leaders understood this wisdom. If they had, they would not have put Christ up on a cross to die. He is the Lord of shining-greatness.” I Corinthians 2:7-8 NLV

For the thief hanging on the cross beside Jesus it was a good day. For each one of us, it was a good day!

“ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. ” Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

For God, the Father, it was good and for Jesus, it was finished!

“Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:21 CEV

“After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died.” John 19:30 CEV

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2 ERV

As I’m concluding this writing the words of an old hymn are bubbling up from my soul. Written in 1707, this song tells my story “When I Survey the Wonderous Cross”.

1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Yes, Good Friday! The day the road ended at the cross.

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The Road to Follow

When we started this series, I titled it “The Road to the Cross”. It is a road that took the people of the Bible 4000+ years to travel. Bible scholars tell us, according to genealogy and history, that it was approximately 4000 years from the garden to the manger.

I often think about the practical aspects of living in those times. How did people communicate with one another? There were really no “major” roadways through the countryside; trade routes were in the beginning stages of development. How long did it take Abraham to go from Ur of the Chaldees to the Promised Land? They didn’t have an Atlas, there was no roadmap to pick up at the local gas station and there was certainly no app for that.

But there was GPN – very similar to GPS but better. GPN, God Provided Navigation. Remember what the Lord told Abraham, “Go to the land that I will show you”.

“You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. 11 Be true to your name, Lord, and keep my life safe. Use your saving power to protect me from trouble.” Psalm 149:10-11 CEV

Yesterday’s verses told us that Jesus is our shepherd, and we hear His voice and follow Him. We aren’t left to stumble around in the dark, searching for our own way. No, God, our loving Father, has a path for us to follow.

“Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk. 106 Your laws are fair, and I have given my word to respect them all.” Psalm 119:105-106 CEV

“Thomas said, ‘Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?’ 6 ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life!’ Jesus answered. ‘Without me, no one can go to the Father.'” John 14:5-6 CEV

Throughout history the Lord gave direction, led the way and set the path. There was a time when the nation of Israel was in rebellion to the Lord and His leading. They tried other ways, followed other gods, and established their own path but they weren’t successful in their endeavors.

When they repented and turned back to following the Lord and His word this is what the Lord told them:

“ The Lord has given you trouble and sorrow as your food and drink. But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” 22 Then you will treat your idols of silver and gold like garbage; you will throw them away like filthy rags.” Isaiah 30:20-22 CEV

Again, you may ask, how do I know God’s path and the way He has planned? I’m so glad you asked. I learned early on that when I don’t have a definite verse in the Bible that gives direction like “Thou shalt not lie”, I can and should be led by God’s peace.

“The Lord says, ‘My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

10 ‘Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return until they have watered the ground.
Then the ground causes the plants to sprout and grow, and they produce seeds for the farmer and food for people to eat. 11 In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do. 12 So you will go out from there with joy. You will be led out in peace.'” Isaiah 55:8-12 ERV

God’s way is so much better than ours. His words are powerful and make things happen. When we look to Him and His guidance, we have His promise that peace will fill our hearts as we follow.

The road to the cross leads us to the Prince of Peace!

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Giants in the Way

On the road to the cross there are problems; enemies to be confronted, giants to defeat.

God made a promise to the Israelites that He would be their God and they would be His people. He said He would bless those that blessed His people and curse those that cursed them.

My favorite verse is found in the Book of Numbers, chapter 23 verse 19. A warring king had wanted the prophet to speak a curse on the Israelites. This is what the prophet said:

“ Balaam answered: ‘Pay close attention to my words—19 God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises. 20 ‘My command from God was to bless these people, and there’s nothing I can do to change what he has done. 21 Israel’s king is the Lord God. He lives there with them and intends them no harm.” Numbers 23:18-21 CEV

Because of Abraham’s relationship with the Lord, God made a promise to bless His people. It was an unbreakable promise. The ultimate blessing came at the cross when all people would be offered the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation through the death of Jesus. Until that time God’s covenant blessing was on those who trusted Him.

“You know that the Lord your God is the only true God. So love him and obey his commands, and he will faithfully keep his agreement with you and your descendants for a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9 CEV

That didn’t mean there wouldn’t be obstacles. It seems as though there was always a king, a nation, a man, who was trying to obstruct God’s plan.

We’ll take a brief look at a young shepherd, David.

“The Philistines had a champion fighter named Goliath, who was from Gath. He was over 9 feet tall. Goliath came out of the Philistine camp. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of armor that was made like the scales on a fish. This armor was made of bronze and weighed about 125 pounds. 6 Goliath wore bronze protectors on his legs. He had a bronze javelin tied on his back. 7 The wooden part of his spear was as big as a weaver’s rod. The spear’s blade weighed 15 pounds. Goliath’s helper walked in front of him, carrying Goliath’s shield.

8 Each day Goliath would come out and shout a challenge to the Israelite soldiers… 10 The Philistine also said, ‘Today I stand and make fun of the army of Israel. I dare you to send me one of your men and let us fight.’” I Samuel 17:4-10 ERV

Each day the giant would taunt them. Each day the Israelites would cower in fear. But then came a young man who knew the promise of God.

“ David asked the men standing near him, ‘What did he say?…Who is this Goliath anyway? He is only some foreigner, nothing but a Philistine. Why does he think he can speak against the army of the living God?” I Samuel 17:26 ERV

David armed himself for battle not with armor and sword but with his confidence in the promises of God.

“45 David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 46 Today the Lord will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 47 All the people gathered here will know that the Lord doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will help us defeat all of you.’” I Samuel 17:45-47 ERV

Are there giants standing in your way? Are they taunting you, trying to disarm you with fear? Be a David, show up to the fight in obedience to God’s word and remember “the battle belongs to the Lord”!

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