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Across the Pastor’s Desk by George Marin

Greetings to all! In my quiet time recently, I read this inspiring quote by international Christian artist, Marcos Witt. I pray it will inspire you as well: “You never fail in trusting God. It doesn’t matter the giant you are facing; God can bring it down.”

David said to the Philistine, “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 the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (I Samuel 17:45 NIV).

David’s defeat of the Philistine giant Goliath, is one of the scriptures’ most notable accounts of a victory God granted to one of his people. This account has been referenced by many motivators, in and out of faith contexts. There is much to be extracted from the content of this account, however, nothing more notable than the power David invoked in his declaration against Goliath. “You come against me with sword and spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord God Almighty…”

Notice that David clearly acknowledged the weaponry Goliath brought to the battle. I find it interesting that he never acknowledged the giant’s size, his reputation, nor his championship; he simply acknowledged the tools of battle. I think that, many times in life, we tend to acknowledge the size of the enemy and allow ourselves to be intimidated by his size. We tend to focus on his reputation as a thief, killer, and destroyer (John 10:10), because we have seen what he’s done to others and what he could possibly do to us. In doing so, we can be tempted to focus on and, in a sense, affirm his championship. David clearly did not do this.

I want to encourage you today to shift your focus off of the prowess of the enemies you are presently facing, and elevate and establish your focus to an unshakable trust and confidence in God! Be assured that David was well prepared for his victory over Goliath. He had built an arsenal of victories already based on his slaying the bear and the lion while protecting his father’s sheep. He had honed the skill of his sling, and he had grown in his confidence and trust in God.

I want to encourage you to recognize, identify, and acknowledge the weapons of battle that the enemy specifically uses against you (you come against me with sword and spear and javelin). Then, above all else, recognize and unleash the power of your trust and confidence in your Almighty God against every single enemy facing off with you today. Remember that God is with you; God is on your side; God wants to give you victory for his glory today and every day.

I love you — I’m in your corner!

George Marin is pastor at Grace Christian Church in Albert Lea.