Be Your Best

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands,     and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. My brothers and sisters in Christ please do not compare what God is doing in others to what He is doing in you. Saul felt David as a threat because the people praised David's accomplishments in war which outweighed Saul's victories. Sometimes others may be better at things than we are but, God does not require us to be the best, all He wants is for us to do our best. So when you feel like you are in second place ask yourself, what does Jesus think of my works? http://areyoudavid.blogspot.com/ wheresdavid@ymail.com The first 3 people to subscribe to this blog will get their free Where's David? t-shirt Many of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath however the life of David and how the Lord used him, is a testament to who Jesus is.  Where's David, is a call for believers to share the gospel of the Lord with others, to strengthen each other through the word, and encourage each other through testimony.

Be Blessed

Who will Be Jonathan?

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 1Samuel 18:1-4 In the bible robes were symbolic of a mantle and were not worn by ordinary people. In this story of David and Jonathan, the robe Jonathan wore represents the position of an heir, royalty, and nobility. Jonathan was sealing his covenant with David by giving him his robe - an amazing gesture of sacrifice. Such a gesture assured David that no matter what, his covenant relationship with Jonathan would remain and that he could count on Jonathan just as he could depend on himself.  I question if as Christians we have been as sacrificial to our brothers and sisters  as Jonathan was to David? Have we taken off our robes and placed them on our friends and family? Have we communicated to them that we agree to treat them as we treat ourselves? My honest reply is that I have not been as sacrificial as I could be. I allow the small annoyances or hiccups in others' personalities to keep me from placing my robe on someone else. See, when Jonathan gave David his robe, he did not give his title away.  Jonathan was still the son of the King and still the Prince. David having the robe simply presented David as royalty and gave David the confidence in knowing he was royalty.  As children of King Jesus we are royalty and heirs of the Kingdom. We know who we are and we know our positions.  But what about those who have no knowledge of their spiritual inheritance? What if for a second we take off our crowns, our robes, and our titles and put them on the 'ordinary people'? What if we sit with them, listen to them, and sup with them just as if we were in the presence of royalty? What if we showed them the same type of love the Father shows us? God is calling us higher and expanding us further than the "me, my four, and no more" mentality. If we really call ourselves brothers and sisters, then we should assure others that the same way we pray ourselves through is the same way we will pray them through . The same way you call on the name of Jesus to meet your needs, is the same way you should call on Jesus on their behalf.  The same umbrella of grace that I am walking under is the same grace available to you, and it is by this very grace that I am where I am. The same Jesus that calls me daughter is the same Jesus that calls you daughter. I am no better, no holier, no more blessed than you because we have the same Daddy, Jesus Christ. Since we have the same Father you are royalty just as I am. I usually ask "Where's David?", but the question today is "Who will be Jonathan?" I am so humbled at how faithful Jesus is. http://areyoudavid.blogspot.com/ wheresdavid@ymail.com The first 3 people to subscribe to this blog will get their free Where's David? t-shirt Many of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath however the life of David and how the Lord used him, is a testament to who Jesus is.  Where's David, is a call for believers to share the gospel of the Lord with others, to strengthen each other through the word, and encourage each other through testimony.

My Weapon

David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent. As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?” Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.” The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.” As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.” 1 Samuel 17:48-50 The weapons your enemies pursue you with will be the very weapons that bear the evidence of God's hand on your life. In verse 46 David tells Goliath how he will  defeat him. In doing so, he deems himself victorious even before the battle began. David declares that he will strike the giant down and cut off his head.  Yet, David does not reveal his strategy, nor does he tell what weapon he will use. As people of the Lord Jesus, it is necessary to learn from David and follow suit  in deeming ourselves victorious  before the  battle even before we know which weapons we will use. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Although we are human,  the battles we are fighting are not of the flesh but of the spirit. Our assignment is to use the word of God in battle. When you allow the Word of God to fight for you, you will not be concerned with the weapons of the enemy nor their footing in this battle.  Your focus will be on carrying out God's plans and submitting to His will. Take heart in knowing that because we are in Christ Jesus we can declare the VICTORY! This week we are praying for the Victims of Senseless Violence http://areyoudavid.blogspot.com/ wheresdavid@ymail.com The first 3 people to subscribe to this blog will get their free Where's David? t-shirt Many of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath however the life of David and how the Lord used him, is a testament to who Jesus is.  Where's David, is a call for believers to share the gospel of the Lord with others, to strengthen each other through the word, and encourage each other through testimony.

Run

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Samuel 17:48-50   Lately God has been dealing with me about running into my destiny, just as David ran toward the giant. Running into my destiny means that when He tells me to go, I have to go without thinking about where the journey will end. As the old adage says, "Slow obedience is no obedience." When God tells me to move, I must move without analyzing which position  I will occupy once I move.  A slothful response after God gives me instruction can lead to a less than desirable result.  Swift obedience, however, will birth abundance.  Running without thought is the striking equivalence of trusting God's word, plans, promises, and His faithfulness. It is also the total opposite of what my humanity wants to do in order to preserve itself from pain and problems. But isn't it awesome that we have a Father that stands patiently waiting for us to trust Him. My destiny is in the palm of His hand and it is waiting on me to come into it. So when He says go I go! When He says move, I move! and When He says, run, I run! http://areyoudavid.blogspot.com/ wheresdavid@ymail.com Many of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath however the life of David and how the Lord used him, is a testament to who Jesus is.  Where's David, is a call for believers to share the gospel of the Lord with others, to strengthen each other through the word, and encourage each other through testimony.

Slingshot and Stones

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.“Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 17:40-47

 David used five smooth pebbles from a stream to defeat Goliath. Think about the pebbles in your life - those small moments, words, or resources that we tend to overlook and underestimate. The same pebbles you pay no mind to while traveling the road of life may be the very tools that empower you to defeat your enemies. Do not despise the resources you have available to you for fear they are incapable agents against the weapons of your opponents. When God sends us into battle, we have to stand confident in knowing we are not alone. Romans 8:31 tells us ".........if God is for us then who can be against us?" Use the word of God as a stone and throw it at the enemy. And if nothing else, the name of Jesus is the best weapon you have. For at the name of Jesus, demons tremble and giants fall. Be encouraged for the I AM, is with you.

Be Yourself

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:38-40

We must remember that we can not be anyone else but who God has called us to be.

When we try to be someone we are not we are short changing ourselves because we are limiting our capabilities and decreasing our possibilities.