We can’t get caught up in the past. We have to continue to press forward no matter the cost, no matter the situation, no matter the consequence. As we do so, we will continue to find ourselves showered in God’s grace accompanied by is blessings.
Go get it. Seize it. Great things are coming. There are tremendous blessings in store for us. We need to take away three important points as we go through this process. Get ready – When I go outside to feed my animals, there is a process of getting ready. It’s cold outside and so I don’t want to be cold. The animals have a bi-product I don’t always like on my clothes and so I need outer wear. Then of course when you put on those cold clothes you can find yourself quite chilled. So, I have to put my clothes on and stay in them for a bit just to warm up. This is a process of getting ready. Once I am ready, I can head out into the wild west and take the day on. God uses similar processes to get us ready so we are adequately equipped. Get set – I loved competing in track as a kid. As soon as I think of “get set” I find my feet on the starting blocks, my body is in a crouched position, and nothing is going to shut me down. I focus on the finish line. I’m not hearing the crowd, I’m not hearing the naysayers. It’s quiet, I’m focused, I’m set. God sets us up in a place where that is completely possible. He wants us focused without distraction. We can’t make the race what it needs to be if we miss the start. Go - When I go, I go. I take no prisoners. It’s like sledding with the girls. We are serious. Sometimes we go forward, backward, sideways or all over the place. Rest assured we are going to have fun and nothing less than that will be our destination. As we press forward on our purpose driven path, we won’t always know what lies ahead, we won’t always know the obstacles, but we have to focus on the unseen, the eternal. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV As God was preparing David long before David was king, he was fighting for his life and the life of His sheep. The spiritual significance and implications from this process were not known to David at the time. However, it was enough to get David willing and able to get on the path to his purpose fulfillment. “But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.” 1 Samuel 17:34-35 NIV Remember at this time David was somewhere around 14 or 15 years of age. He was wet behind the ears. Did that mean he wasn’t qualified? Quite possible in the eyes of the natural it seemed ridiculous. However, God loves to use the ridiculous and make it a testimony. “David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”” 1 Samuel 17:32-33 NIV Imagine being in the position of Saul. The public shame he would face by putting a kid in the battle lines. This simply wasn’t done. At the same time, he had a serious battle going in inside him. I can only imagine his thought process as he contemplated the plan. Ultimately, he had a decision to make. At this point I don’t think he had much to lose. He needed to do something. He decided defeat was going to happen should they continue on the course they were currently tracking. He took the risk but wanted to equip David as best he could. I’m certain this had something to do with insurance, underwriters and legal counsel. Ok, probably not exactly but he wanted to save face to some extent I’m sure. So he sent David off to battle. “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 facedown 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 NIV Imagine the amazement as Saul watch the impossible become the possible. This didn’t happen by chance. It was a prompting, a direct leading from God to make a pathway for Jesus and His lineage only to be discovered centuries later. Let’s move this conversation back to you. This will be your best year yet. Go get it. Three major points: 1. Get ready “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV 2. Get set “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NIV 3. Go “I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path. Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.” Proverbs 4:11-12 NCV
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPhilip Lukens is the senior pastor of the Carr Community Church. To receive updates please enter your e-mail address below and click subscribe. Archives
December 2020
CategoriesAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. |