© 2024 Coastal Church. All rights reserved | Privacy & Security
1160 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC, V6E 3H7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
–Proverbs 3:5-6
Godly living is not about your high level of human understanding, but in whom you put your ultimate trust. If we trust God, we also acknowledge him daily and we can be assured that He will lead us down the right path.
Do you remember when David went up against Goliath, the giant Philistine warrior who was greatly feared by the entire army of King Saul? Goliath taunted the army of Israel and its God for forty days. No one dared to accept his fight-to-the-death. It did not make sense for David to take this path and take on this fight when looking at his outward appearance and capabilities. How did David have the courage to fight such an experienced and feared fighter –– and win? Let’s take a look at the passage found in
1 Samuel 17:45-46:
“…David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head…”
It is not about how well you fight, but who is fighting with you. Let me give you an illustration: if one of my daughters is being bullied by someone bigger, stronger and older than her and she cries out to me as her dad to intervene and I stand up for her, then she is transferring the “struggle” from her versus the bully to me versus the bully. And who do you think is going to be able to settle the matter? The one who is wiser and stronger.
In the same way, you need to transfer the battle from you versus the enemy to God versus the enemy. God is infinitely stronger and wiser than us and the devil. One thing you shouldn’t do with David’s story is to read it as a story of personal courage in the face of formidable odds. Yes, David was courageous, but it was not a self-generated, Hollywood action-movie hero type of courage. What powered David’s courage was his dependence and trust in God’s promises and His power to fulfill them.
You and I also need to put our trust and confidence in the Lord to fight our everyday battles. The Holy Spirit who lives in every Christian is there to empower us to live for God and fight our flesh, the devil and worldly passions (Romans 8:5-6; Titus 2:12; Eph. 6:10-11). However, in our context today when we refer to fighting, we are talking about spiritual warfare and fighting against the devil “…against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places…” (Eph. 6:12) we are called to love our human enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44).
So, I ask you today what battles do you have in your life today that you need to transfer to the Lord instead of trying to figure it out by yourself in your own understanding and strength?
Is it an alcohol and/or drug addiction?
A battle with pornography and lust?
Constant quarrelling and fighting with your spouse?
Difficult coworker?
Battles with your kids?
Is it an eating disorder?
Gambling addiction?
Love of money, prestige and power?
Regardless of the size of the enemy standing in front of you, our God is mightier. The enemy may be robbing you of peace and soundness of mind, but our God is greater.
Put your trust in the name of the Lord today.
“In the morning let me hear about your faithful love, because I’ve put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should live, because I trust you with my life.” – Psalm 143:8
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© 2024 Coastal Church. All rights reserved | Privacy & Security
1160 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC, V6E 3H7