Defeating Your Giants

David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (1 Samuel 17:45)

Every day, this giant named Goliath would come out to the battlefield and challenge the armies of Israel to a winner take all contest. Using his words, his armor, and his size, Goliath would intimidate Israel. Saul's army stood and faced the giant every day with great fear and dismay. But then came David, a Shepard boy, who was delivering food to his brothers and heard this blasphemy. David, willing to fight, expressed great confidence before Goliath. However, his confidence was not in himself - but in the Lord. He saw more power in the ability of God to deliver him, than in this giant to destroy him.

As with David, it is not really a contest between the giants in our lives and us, it is a contest between the giants and the Lord. And like David, we too can stand and fight in the Lord's power and His might. All we need is the proper perspective about the giants in our lives and simply place them at God's feet. Then through faith, we walk in the power of His promises remembering that; "If God is for us, who can stand against us." (Romans 8:31)

Through the power of the Lord, every giant in our life can fall.....but we must trust in Him.

The Truth
"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5)

Rekindle a Discouraged Soul

A modern parable has been written about the tools of the enemy that I believe we can really learn from.

“Some time ago, an advertisement appeared in which the devil was putting all his tools up for sale. On the day of public inspection, each one of his tools was marked with its selling price: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Doubt, Lying, Pride, and so on, were each on the block. Set apart, however, from all the rest of the pile, was a harmless-looking tool, well-worn, but priced very high — it was discouragement!

Someone asked the devil, ‘why is that one priced so high?’ He replied, ‘Ah, that one is more useful to me than all the rest. With it I can pry open a man’s heart and enter, when I cannot get near him with any other tools. Once inside, I can lead him any way I choose. The tool is very worn because I use it on almost everyone, since few people know it belongs to me.’”

The enemy loves to sow discouragement — but believers have a tool much more powerful — encouragement! We can speak a word into the lives of those who desperately need to hear it: to the college student adjusting to his new environment; to the missionary who may feel alone in the harvest field; to the forgotten servants of God who labor in an obscure and difficult ministry; to the orphans and the widows; to all those who need to hear a word in due season!

Inspire one another with words of encouragement! It costs nothing, and reaps an eternal reward

The Truth
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Proverbs 15:23)

Praising The Mother of My Children

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)

I have - And her worth is far above rubies. She has loved me through many seasons in our 27 years of marriage, when a woman of lesser character would have taken another road. But this virtuous woman has; bore me two children, cared for them, trained them, provided for them, stood by them, encouraged them, sacrificed for them, been patient with them, corrected them, let go of them and has never ceased praying for them......or me.

I am so blessed to have Lori in my life - and fortunate too according to Pastor Romaine who once told me, "She doesn't need you. She has been doing OK on her own. Your no door prize, you might even be the "booby prize" for all I know. What makes you think you deserve her?"

My answer to this is the same as it was 27 years ago, "I don't.....but I'm working on it."

The Truth
"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her." (Proverbs 31:28)
Happy Mothers Day sweetheart.