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

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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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

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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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

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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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

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Is it Gossip--or Something That Needs to be Said?

Terry always talked about Roger behind his back. I told Roger, “Terry’s always gossiping about you.” I was shocked when Roger replied, “Terry’s always gossiping about you, too!” It really is true—the person who gossips to you will also gossip about you. And this is why we shouldn’t be friends with anyone who spreads rumors. “He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip” (Prov. 20:19).

But just because you talk about someone doesn’t mean that it’s gossip. You need to talk to and about others when corrections need to be made. Second Timothy 4:2 says to reprove, rebuke, exhort, and instruct. Sometimes it’s necessary to talk about others, but in the right way. Ask yourself these three questions.

1. What’s my motive in sharing this information? Do you want to hurt someone’s reputation? Are you trying to make yourself look better?  

2. Have I verified that the information is accurate? "Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (2 Cor. 13:1). This keeps false accusations from destroying a person's reputation. Don’t believe everything you hear. A teacher sent home a note to parents on the first day of school: “If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I’ll promise not to believe everything your child says happened at home.”

Information gets twisted as it’s being passed along. I was once preaching a sermon and asked the congregation, “If you’ve ever heard gossip about yourself and at least part of it wasn’t true, please raise your hand.” The entire congregation raised their hands! I told the church, “Remember this the next time you hear a rumor. It’s probably inaccurate or not even true.”

3. Am I sharing this information with someone who needs to hear it? Is the other person part of the solution? Will everyone be better off if you don’t share it?

Remember to ask yourself these questions the next time you’re tempted to talk about someone. www.makinglifecount.net

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NEW PROPHECY BIBLE STUDY: When will people saved during Millennium receive eternal glorified bodies?

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

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Jesus Never Explained Why Tragedies Happen

When tragedies and accidents happen many people ask, “Why would God allow this?” Jesus had an opportunity to clear up these matters—but He didn’t. Two disasters occurred where many people were killed. Pilate ordered some Jewish worshipers to be murdered, and 18 people were accidentally killed when a tower fell on them.

Luke 13:1-5 says, “There were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no.…

Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no.’”

Some people assumed they died because God was punishing them for their sins. Jesus corrected this incorrect assumption (“Do you suppose…”) and said those catastrophes didn’t happen because of their sins. Twice He said, “I tell you, no.” God wasn’t to blame for those tragedies.

Some people blame God for not preventing evil and suffering. But remember, Jesus saw evil and suffering every day and never blamed God for it. After all, He was God! He never said, “You’re right. I’m to blame for all these terrible things.” Obviously there’s more going on than meets the eye. Satan and his demons incite people to do evil, and most accidents happen due to natural causes.

Jesus wasn’t interested in giving us a theological explanation for every accident or calamity that happens. When you’re suffering your greatest need isn’t an explanation, but comfort for your soul and the strength to endure. One day when you stand before God, all your questions will be answered (1 Cor. 13:12). Until then, put your trust in God who knows all things and allow Him to comfort your soul.

www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

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Jump-Starting a Battery

Someone has said that discouragement is the devil’s most valuable tool. The Bible calls discouragement “losing heart” (Luke 18:1, 2 Cor. 4:1,16, Gal. 6:9). Discouragement means losing your strength, courage and motivation, which drains your spiritual battery. When you encourage a discouraged person it’s like sending energy into their spirit so they can keep going.

When you jump-start a battery, you pull alongside the vehicle that has a depleted battery. You connect the jumper cables on a car’s good battery to the battery in the other car. When you turn on your car, the power in your battery flows into the other battery to start the other car.

This illustrates how encouragement works. It’s like jump-starting another person. You pull alongside someone who is exhausted or has lost hope. Your encouraging words send energy into them so they can continue down the road.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Of course, every day is today. Today is today, and when you get to tomorrow, that will be today as well. This means we need to encourage one another every day.

How do you encourage someone? You speak positive words that give affirmation and hope. Compliment them on the good qualities you see in them. Tell them God loves them and He has a good plan in spite of the way they feel right now (Jer. 29:11). Dark clouds hide the sunshine but the sun is still there and your dark times will soon pass.

Don’t wait until tomorrow to jump-start someone. Do it today. www.makinglifecount.net

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NEW BIBLE STUDY: “What does ‘Lead us not into temptation’ mean?”

NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY: Israeli student finds ancient rare coin of King Agrippa

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