Thursday, November 17, 2022

Pick Up The Stone

 

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

 

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:28 PM

    Amen to these true words of wisdom. Trust Him in everything. Prayers and blessings.

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    1. Thank you so much for your encouragement. We can join together in prayer, trusting Him.

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  2. Anonymous9:17 PM

    Thank you for the encouraging story of David. He is one of my very favorites. Trusting in our Lord and Savior for guidance, strength and courage to confront our enemies. Always grateful and thankful. Lois

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    1. David is a figure I can relate to ... his strength and courage and his failures. He's just a real person with all sorts of flaws but a man who loves God.

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  3. Anonymous5:53 PM

    Thank you again Bonnie for this wonderful reminder and encouragement, I have a daughter going through breast cancer, she just had her last chemo treatment and as each has effected her harshly, this will be a comforting reminder when /if those tough days hit 💞

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear of your daughter's battle, but how grand it is that she has completed the chemo. I don't have her name, but I am praying for her. God knows all there is to know and He loves her in a way we can barely understand. Bless you.

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  4. Anonymous1:16 AM

    Great words of wisdom as we face the battles each & everyday. As we go forth, we need the armor of God not man’s armor. Bless you gif sharing this.

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    Replies
    1. May the Lord bless you as you meet each day and each challenge.

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