A Different Perspective

Tonight at church we looked at 1 Samuel 17 and the story of David and Goliath. Our pastor David Platt pointed out some things about this well known Bible story that I previously had not thought about. (He has a funny way of doing that a lot of times.) Before, I had always looked at the story of David as a story of bravery and standing up to your enemies, challenges and greatest fears. I thought of him simply as a courageous boy who would one day be king. At first glance, you might even find him to be a just a little cocky with all that trash talk about killing lions and bears. I had not ever really considered where that confidence came from or why he was so enraged by Goliath until tonight.

First, David was not scared of Goliath because he didn't see him as great. Instead, he saw his God as greater. I thought about how many times I have thought of my problems or fears and allowed them to grow to be so great in my mind, instead of being reminded that my God is and always will be greater than anything I may face. David was also enraged at Goliath because he was blaspheming his God. The one true God. I wonder, if someone blasphemes or my God, do I bow up in anger or do I cower in fear as Saul and the other Israelites did? David also operated out of a position of understanding that God had already promised to defeat his enemies and the victory was decided. The battle was not something to be questioned, avoided or feared, but something to go and be taken. So was David brave, yes, but only because he had the right perspective on the situation and the right viewpoint of God and what it meant to be a child of Him.

So how does this affect my life? Well, I hope it means that I will know what it means to live in a spirit of victory and to never allow my circumstances, problems, or fears to consume or defeat my spirit. That I would understand that I live with the power and strength of Christ who lives in me. The same power and strength that defeated sin, death and the devil himself. That is the strength that lies inside of me. With that, why should I be afraid? With that, what should I fear? The victory has been won by my mighty Savior and in the end, any "battle" he fights for me is all for HIS GLORY.

I already know...

First of all, I know I have been terrible about keeping up with this lately. School has been crazy, so while I have been keeping up with my Bible reading, the blog has suffered. But I am going to try and do better about keeping up with it too. I still have one story from Kenya I would like to share, but I will probably do that later.

This week I have been thinking a lot about Easter and what it means in my faith and my life. First of all, I am so blessed that a perfect and wrathful God would meet me in my depravity to provide a way into a restored relationship with Him through belief in his Son, Jesus Christ. I am undeserving of such grace and mercy, but blessed and thankful to have received it. Today at work and on my drive to Montevallo I spent time communing with God while listening to music. Music and songs have always spoken to me and today there were many lyrics that let me to the cross. One song in particular was written and performed by a young woman in our church. It speaks of how God already knows the end of our story. I am so happy that He does. So that even in the days when I wonder why the world is so messed up, I am reminded that God is sovereign and in control of all situations. Here are the lyrics of the song "I already know":

I’m closer than you can see

And my love is greater than you know.

Feel the weight of my mercy.

My arms are open.

And I already know who’s gonna save you.

I already wrote the end of the story.

You were made for me, and I’ll never leave you.

And in the end its all for My glory.

Your life is my melody,

Part of a song that I am singing.

In the dark its hard to see,

but there will be redemption in the morning.

And I already know who’s gonna save you.

I already wrote the end of the story.

You were made for me, and I’ll never leave you.

And in the end its all for My glory.

Cling to me and wait,

As I cover you with My garmets.

Can’t you see you are my clay,

And I’m the potter and you are carrying my fingerprints.

And I already know who’s gonna save you.

I already wrote the end of the story.

You were made for me, and I’ll never leave you.

And in the end its all for My glory.

And I already know who’s gonna save you.

I already wrote the end of the story.

You were made for me, and I’ll never leave you.

And in the end you will be happy,

And in the end, you will be with me,

And in the end, its all for My glory.

Pretty great huh? What a comforting reminder that He is mighty to save and He has already written our stories. What a blessing it is to be made for Him and to know that He will never leave us. I hope that I will live my life in a way that really is all for His glory.