Your Battle Plan to Defeat Goliath

Many stories in the Old Testament teach us valuable lessons we can apply today. When David killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17), it teaches us about how to conquer our giant problems. Your Goliath may be a situation that you’re afraid to face or a problem that looks too big to handle.

Every Israeli soldier was afraid to face Goliath. "When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid" (17:24). David was the only one who wasn't afraid and was confident he would win. Here’s how he did it.

1. Conquer your fear by placing your complete trust in God. Fear weakens your willingness to win. If a boxer is afraid before he steps into the boxing ring, he will lose the fight. David wrote, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You...In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?” (Ps. 56:3-4). He knew that trust forces out fear.  

2. Pray for God’s wisdom on how to proceed. Some people will give you wrong advice on how to fight the battle. King Saul tried to get David ready for battle by putting his bronze helmet and armor on him. David put on the armor and could barely walk (17:38-39). If he had tried to fight Goliath following Saul’s advice he would have been killed! But God knew the best way to defeat Goliath was with a rock and sling. The Lord will tell you the correct way to attack your problem—and it might not be the way it has always be done.

3. Remember God's faithfulness. As a shepherd, David had killed a lion and a bear that tried to attack his flock (17:34-36). Those were training exercises to get him ready for Goliath. He knew God would be with him in the fight because of His past faithfulness. He said, “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God” (17:36). When God calls you to do something, He will make it happen. “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thess. 5:24).

David didn't take credit for slaying the giant but wanted the Lord's name to be exalted, "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (17:46). Now go take down the giant you’re facing today so that God will be glorified. www.makinglifecount.net

****************************************************************************************************

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Are You in Bondage to Someone?

Have you ever wondered why God sent Moses to Pharaoh to tell him, “Let My people go”? The Lord could have led the Hebrews out of Egypt without getting Pharaoh’s permission, but God wanted to give Pharaoh a chance to “let go.” He needed to take his hands off the Hebrews and release them from slavery. 

If he had listened to Moses and let go, he could have avoided the 10 plagues. But stubborn Pharaoh didn’t heed God’s warning, so he had to suffer the consequences.

Many people today have Pharaoh-itis. They’re holding on to people in their minds that they need to let go. Here are some examples:
***They’ve been hurt by someone and won’t forgive. God tells them to let them go.
***They’re involved in unhealthy relationships. The Lord says to let them go.
***They’ve lost a loved one either by death or a breakup. God wants them to let go and move on.
***Some people are “controllers” and try to make everyone obey them though guilt trips and manipulation. God says, “Let My people go so that they might serve Me” (Ex. 8:1).

You can let people go by cutting the invisible string that connects you to that person. As long as the string stays attached you’ll be in bondage to that individual. Imagine taking a pair of spiritual scissors and cutting the strings in Jesus’ name. Tell the Lord you are releasing that person into His hands and the strings are no longer attached.

Now, if that person tries to pull strings on you, it doesn’t affect you because the connection has been broken. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36) www.makinglifecount.net

****************************************************************************************************

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Hate Yourself or Love Yourself?

Should you hate yourself or love yourself? Author Leanne Payne has said, "If we are busy hating the soul that God loves and is in the process of straightening out, we cannot help others. Our minds will be riveted on ourselves—not on Christ who is our wholeness.”

When Jesus said to hate your own life (Luke 14:26), He meant for us to hate selfishness. He did not mean to hate yourself as a person that God created. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39) because you can’t honestly tell someone God loves them if you don’t believe it about yourself.

A prison chaplain told me, “Do you know why prisoners commit crimes? It’s because they hate themselves. And if they hate themselves, how can they love others? If they don’t have respect for themselves, why would they respect anyone else and their property? That’s why it doesn’t bother them to steal or kill. They don’t love others because they don’t love themselves.”

This chaplain knows how prisoners think because he too was once incarcerated. He killed someone when he was younger and was sent to prison. During his time in jail a chaplain told him about God’s love and led him to the Lord. After serving his sentence and released, he went back into prison as a chaplain. He now teaches prisoners they need to receive God’s love and accept themselves as His creation. Only then can they respect others.

God demonstrated His love for you by dying for you (Rom 5:8). “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit (5:5). When you allow God’s love to enter your heart, you will love yourself as He loves you—and then you can extend that love to your neighbor. Have you learned to love yourself? It’s not selfish. It’s what God wants. www.makinglifecount.net

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

****************************************************************************************************

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

Every Decision is a Trade

When you make a decision it’s like making a trade—you give up something to get something else. You go to a furniture store, hand cash to the salesperson and walk out with a chair. You’ve traded your money for furniture. When you exchange wedding vows, you’ve decided to give up single life for married life. A wise decision is when you “trade up” and gain something better than what you had before.

To make a wise decision you must

1. Correctly determine the value of what you have and what you want. If you misjudge the value of either one, you’ll make a foolish decision.

2. Consider the long-term outcome. Instant gratification is short-lived while delayed gratification means waiting to get something much better.

Jesus told a rich young ruler if he would sell his possessions and give to the poor, he would gain “treasure in heaven” that would last forever (Mark 10:21). He was offering him something of much greater value. But the man didn’t believe what Jesus told him and walked away disappointed. Why? He misjudged the value of both what he had and what he would receive. He owned much property and didn’t want to give it up. He thought this short-term life was more important than the long-term next life. That was 2,000 years ago. Do you think he regrets his decision?

Esau traded his birthright (his inheritance) for a bowl of soup because misjudged the value of both his birthright and the bowl of soup (Gen. 25:32). He thought his inheritance was worth nothing and the soup extremely valuable. He was hungry (instant gratification) and said, “What use is the birthright to me?” Later he realized his foolish mistake and cried because he couldn’t get it back (Heb. 12:17).

The next time you need to make a decision think about the value of what you’re trading. Ask yourself, “Will I better off many years from now?” www.makinglifecount.net

****************************************************************************************************

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com