Be Ready

God may just decide to use you for His purpose.

I always enjoy the story of David and Goliath. Goliath was a hardened and experienced warrior. David spent his life up to this point taking care of his father’s sheep. When David stepped up and said he would fight Goliath the Philistine, I am sure everyone laughed. I can just imagine everyone thinking this is just a kid and he thinks he can take on a giant. Little did they know that David had been through God’s preparation for just this moment. “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he had defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of the Philistine. 1 Samuel 34-37

I also like the part of the story where Saul tries to give David his armor. This shows where Saul’s heart was. Saul depended on the trappings of shields, sword and armor to protect him, whereas David depended on the strength of the Lord. Saul feared the Philistines and would not stand up to them, but David had no fear. I think the underlying purpose of this story was to show that Saul was not fit to be king. It was the beginning of the unraveling of Saul.

Do you ever think about how God might want to use you for his kingdom? God often chose the smallest, the youngest, or the weakest to reveal Himself to His people. Isn’t that also when we see God the most, when He uses someone that we think is less powerful or whom we think is less likely to succeed. We have to remember that God is all powerful. He can do anything. If He created us He can surely give us the power to overcome anything. What better way to show us Himself than to use someone that in our minds cannot do what God gives them the power to do.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am not brave, courageous or mighty. But I know that you have the power to show others You through me. I want to be ready when you decide you would like to use me for your kingdom in whatever way you see fit. Help me to be observant and recognize when you want to use me for Your purpose. You are amazing and deserve all the glory.

Scripture: David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47