Coffee Break     
 
"Victory Or Defeat?" 
 
"...for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands."  1 Samuel 17:47b
 
One day last week we talked about not being intimidated by the size of your problem.  One of the examples we used was David facing Goliath.  This morning I want to talk about this story again. 
 
None of us are exempt from problems-- we all face them.  But how do you face them?  How do you respond to them when they come your way?  The army of Israel and David both faced the same giant, Goliath, but each had a different response to him.  The Israelite's response was..."When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid." (1 Samuel 17:11)  David's was..."And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine." (verse 32)  One faced him with fear and unbelief; the other faced him with faith and courage.
 
Let me show you the difference between the two that led one to victory and the other to defeat.  We'll look at the Israelite army first.  They faced Goliath with fear because they compared him (his size) to themselves.  Secondly, they were trusting in their own ability, own strength, own skills to save them.  Next, they thought that it was up to them to bring deliverance and kill the giant.
 
Now look at David.  He faced the giant with courage and faith because he compared the size of the giant to the size of his God- not himself.  Because of that he knew Goliath was no match for God.  David did not trust in his strength or abilities, he trusted in His God's ability to bring the giant down.  Lastly, David knew that he wasn't the one to deliver anyone-- God was the deliverer ("This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee." verse 46a).  David knew it wasn't up to him.  David knew where his help lie.  David knew his God was bigger, stronger and able to do "exceeding abundantly above".
 
The difference between David and the army was that David trusted God with the situation- problem.  The Israelites were putting their trust in themselves.  The way that you win the victory instead of being defeated is by putting your trust in God.... not in your flesh.  Your flesh can't save you, it can't deliver you, it can't kill giants, it won't solve your problems... but God can and will if you will put your trust and confidence in Him and His ability to do it.  It's not up to you to bring victory, it's up to you to trust Him and not be afraid to meet the problem through His strength and power.  Are you going to let the problem defeat you by trying to solve it in the flesh?  Or are you going to win the victory over it by trusting God to fight it for you? 
 
Have a great day.  David wasn't Israel's champion... God was.  Let Him be your champion in this battle you are facing. 
 
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
        ~ Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)