Is God Bigger than Your Giant?

 By Andrea Merrell

David shouted in reply, “You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven and of Israel … Today the Lord will conquer you.”   

1 Samuel 17:45-46 TLB

 

I was stressed to the max, over-analyzing the problem and worrying about it as if it were all up to me to fix it.

When will I ever learn? I asked myself for the umpteenth time.

What it comes down to is our perception of God. How big is He? Is He ready, willing, and more than able to handle our problems?

The answer is a resounding YES!

John Ortberg says:

When we make the mistake of shrinking God, we offer prayer without faith, work without passion, service without joy, and suffering without hope—which results in fear, retreat, loss of vision, and failure to persevere.

David was a small shepherd boy who looked past Goliath’s size. He knew his God was bigger than any giant he would ever encounter. David also knew the battle belonged to the Lord.

No matter what you’re going through, the next time a giant steps in your path, call on the Lord and let Him fight the battle. The good news is He never fails.

And He’s way bigger than the giant standing in your way.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Sira Anamwong.)

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No matter what you’re going through, the next time a giant steps in your path, call on the Lord and let Him fight the battle. via @AndreaMerrell(Click to tweet.)

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Win the Battle with Praise

By Andrea Merrell

 

This is what the Lord says to you:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.

For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV

“We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us, nor do we know what to do.”

These were the words of King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:12) when he faced three different armies that had combined to wipe out his land. He confessed his predicament and cried out to the Lord. Then he said, “Our eyes are on you.”

The Lord answered, “Do not be afraid.” He assured Jehoshaphat that the battle belonged to Him, not an earthly king. Then he gave some rather unorthodox instructions. He told the king to put the choir in front of the army. Can you imagine? God wanted them to praise their way into victory. And so they did.

Have you ever been in a situation where it seems all the powers of hell have combined to wipe you out? I know I have. In those times, the last thing our flesh wants to do is to start praising the Lord. We want to kick and scream, grumble and complain. But God doesn’t respond to tantrums. He responds to our faith and our heartfelt praise.

The next time you’re in a tough situation, remember that the battle belongs to God. Put your worship on. As Bob Gass says, “Begin to praise God, and the forces of heaven will come to your aid.”

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Chaiwat.)

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When we’re in a battle, God doesn’t respond to tantrums. He responds to our faith and our heartfelt praise. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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Battle Fatigue

Don't be afraid! Don't be paralyzed by this mighty army!

For the battle is not yours, but God's!

II Chronicles 20:15-16 TLB

 “I’m too tired to go to church this morning.  In fact, I may never go to church again.  I’m taken for granted, unappreciated, and just plain burned out.  I quit!”

“But, honey,” the man’s wife replied, “you’re the pastor.”

We can chuckle, but we’ve all been there to some degree or another.  Being in the ministry is like being in the thick of the battle 24/7.  Sometimes we come out with battle fatigue, waving the white flag, and looking for a place to hide, rest, and regroup.

The truth is, we are in a battle, but the key to winning is in knowing the final outcome is not up to us. The battle belongs to the Lord. When we know Who’s in charge and what we’re fighting for, we can rest in the knowledge that God will strengthen us, give us His wisdom and direction, and we will come out victorious in the end—no matter what.

When it comes right down to it, every believer is in the ministry, from the pastor to the parking lot attendant. Your job might be leading evangelistic crusades or making copies for a Sunday school class.  Even if you never go overseas on a mission trip, you can witness to your neighbor, share the love of Jesus with a cashier or co-worker, and pray for friends, family, and all who are in authority.

We all have a job to do. We all have a part to play in God’s Kingdom as long as we draw breath, and we must never throw in the towel and quit. The Bible tells us to never become weary in doing what is right. Why?  Because the rewards and benefits are well worth the sacrifice.

If the heat of the battle is pressing in on you and you are tempted to go AWOL, hang in there.  Call on the One who gives strength, speaks peace, and provides all the spiritual weapons we need to win.

Just remember … the battle is not yours, but God’s.

(Photo courtesy of freeimages.com.)