Recently I spoke at a women's retreat where the topic for the weekend was the "All Consuming Fire of God". There were four speakers and we each presented a different niche on the topic. I spoke about God's way of using ordinary people to carry out His will. It is because of the "All Consuming Fire" that we are able.
A Biblical example I used was David, the son of Jesse and the eventual king of Israel. He was an ordinary man, at least that's how he appeared to others, but to God, he was special. As a young man, David was a shepherd, but that was only the beginning of his story.
Early in his journey, David had an encounter with a Philistine called Goliath who was a giant of a man and charged with doing battle with the Israelites. Goliath challenged any one Israelite, but no one came forth ... until David, who was still a boy.
David was confident that he could take down Goliath, but not even his own brother believe he could do it and King Saul took a great deal of convincing before he consented.
Soldiers tried to dress David in heavy armor, placing a bronze helmet on his head and forcing him to wear a coat of metal plates. They gave him a huge sword. But David knew he couldn't do battle that way. With permission from King Saul. he shed the armor and picked up five smooth stones from a stream and placed them in his shepherd's bag.
Everyone watching must have thought him foolish. Why would he set himself up for failure?
Sometimes it looks that way to others when we stand up to a giant. But these were David's words as he approached Goliath. "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 Israel, whom you have defied."
David knew where his power came from. And he stood, unafraid.
With one stone, David took down Goliath that day. If he had fought man's way and in his own power, he most certainly would have been defeated. But David wisely listened to God. It required much from him to do so. He had to believe, he had to pick up the stones, stand up to Goliath and then throw the stone.
Sometimes we have to stand up and throw the stone. God gives the power.
It's not easy when we hear God's direction and others see foolishness. But if God is speaking to you, stand firm. Believe.
There are many giants in this world that need to be faced down. We each have our own way, our own skills. God knows this when he asks us to serve Him. Trust Him to know best. With the Lord we can do anything, without Him we are doomed to failure.
In these trying times we are facing battles we never imagined. The only way to win is to listen to the Living God and to obey Him.
Let us do battle together, supporting one another and praying for one another. We are not the enemy. Look to The Father and He will show us the way.
Grace and peace to you from God,
Bonnie Leon
