Daily Devotional for Thursday 9th November
The battle is the Lord’s
Today we reach the climax of the story of David and Goliath. David kills Goliath with just a sling and a stone. But what’s more amazing is the faith that David had as he told Goliath that his time was up! David knew who was on his side. Goliath may have had a height advantage, a strength advantage, and a physical weapon advantage. But David had the Lord.
Throughout the Bible we see story after story, verse after verse, encouraging us to trust in God. To believe that He is in control and is more powerful than anything we could come up against. For example, He says to the Israelites, ‘When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you’ (Deuteronomy 20:1). In Psalms we read, ‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God’ (Psalm 20:7). And God told King Jehoshaphat and the people, ‘’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s’ (2 Chronicles 20:15).
When we face difficulties and challenges, we don’t have to be afraid. We have God on our side. He is able to do more than we can even imagine (see Ephesians 3:20). As we square up to the things we’re facing, like David did with Goliath, we have a choice. We can either let fear, discouragement and disappointment overwhelm us. Or we can declare who God is. We can speak truth over the situation. We can worship. Let’s remember how God’s been faithful to us in the past and let our faith rise up.
Time to reflect...
• When have you clearly felt God’s presence with you?
• Think of some Bible verses which remind you of who God is, and who you are in Him? Why not repeat those out loud to yourself today, or write them up and put them somewhere you’ll see them throughout the day.
Pause to pray…
As you come to God in prayer, reflecting on today’s devotional, you might like to listen to ‘Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by Chris Tomlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOkImV2cJDg
Whom shall I fear?
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
