DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-10-26
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Samuel 17:26
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁶ David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

APPLICATION: As a young, innocent child, we tend to stand up for our tall, handsome, strong dad as we’ve seen him overcome many obstacles and provide for our family in amazing ways. Through good Sunday School teachers, VBS (Vacation Bible School) teachers, and young-at-heart pastors, we may learn very early in life that there is One even more powerful, more loving, more caring, more giving and even more outstanding than our dad. Some of us go on to accept this Jesus as our Lord, and give Him full access to our lives and our energies, while others tend to shrug off the idea of Christianity so that they could enjoy all that the world offers. As I read today’s Scripture again, I believe the Holy Spirit made me analyze whether I fit in better with Saul’s army, or with young David. The army saw a huge giant in front of them. In fact, something much larger than the whole Philistine army that surrounded them. They were paralyzed by this giant of a man. For the non-Christian, they can only see the giant, because they have rejected God and would prefer that He leave them alone. But for the Christian, what do we see when obstacles appear? Are we as confident as young David, and able to say in the presence of our senior officials and church leaders: but wait a minute, that thing, or that disease, or that financial burden, or that huge question mark, they are just minor obstacles to our awesome and almighty God. As a church leader, are you willing to listen to your young innocent Christians who have not been struck by doubt and fear, and still strongly believe that our God is one who stands ready to move mountains for us, and able to handle all of our obstacles, even if they appear like ‘giants’ to us? As a young Christian, please be encouraged to stand firm in your faith, and while I strongly believe that you should respect your elders, I want you to always remember that no one outshines or overpowers Almighty God. Friends, the body of Christ consists of men like those who made up Saul’s army. They tried to run David off to go and attend his small flock of sheep, and leave the big job to the big guys. But praise God, He also sends along young men like David, whose faith has not been dampened by the doubt of unbelievers and sometimes, older Christians. In fact, they are still young and innocent enough to believe that God will make a way, even when there seems to be no way – at least in the eyes of men. Romans 8:31-39 assures us that there is nothing that could separate us from the love of God. Because of that connectedness to God, I firmly believe that neither will anything prove bigger than our God, or more powerful than our God. Trust in the Lord your God, and ALL these things will be granted to you! David trusted God, and gained his confidence in God through His relationship and proven miracles from God. As a child of God, we too can have that same assurance today!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Who or what can defy the army of God? David assured us that nothing is bigger or more powerful! Let us therefore trust in our God for ALL things!

PRAYER: Thank You heavenly Father for the confidence we can have in You! David showed us that there was no room for fear, but instead, we should look at the obstacles in life through the lens of our awesome God. Oftentimes there are life-challenges that will seem like giants standing before us and blocking our path to victory, but Lord it is especially these times that we need to hear Your still small voice reassuring us of Your might and Your power over EVERYTHING You created. Please calm our nerves today and help us to see You, the maker and ruler of all things created. Please use these stories of reassurance to draw the lost unto Yourself. May today present opportunities for lost family and friends to find Christ. Use us Lord to be Your hands, feet and lips here on earth. Draw all men unto Yourself, for Your ultimate honor, glory and praise! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!