Run Toward Victory

Do you run toward victory? I’ve been reading through 1 Samuel and yesterday I read the story of David and Goliath. The entire account is incredible and I’ve grown up hearing the story, but this time as I read it something stood out to me that I’m not sure I noticed before. When David went to face Goliath, he did so with a confident urgency and literally ran toward the victory.

1 Samuel 17:48 says, “When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.” Did you catch that? David ran quickly toward the battle. In the versus leading up to this one, David declares his confidence and trust in the LORD in 1 Samuel 17:45-47 by stating, “…”You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” David’s attitude and actions clearly demonstrated trust in God and His ability to use anyone (even a shepherd boy) and anything (a sling and a stone) to accomplish His purpose. David was able to run to the battle line because he already knew that the LORD would be victorious over Goliath.

This led me to wonder if I am the type of person that runs toward victory. In order to run toward the victory, David had to be willing to run toward the battle line. Victory sounds wonderful — battle sounds more daunting — yet there is no victory without a battle. I know that there are battles in my life, both currently and still to come, and I really have to ask myself how I’m preparing for them. Am I preparing like David did? He was diligent in the role that he had been called to — caring for his father’s sheep and protecting them from wild animals — which is why he was ready to face Goliath when the time came. He knew that “…The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine…” (1 Samuel 17:37). Had he not strengthened his bravery and trust muscles when he was tending the sheep, he probably wouldn’t have been as prepared when it came time to face Goliath. He had taken his role as a shepherd seriously and learned how to trust God in the face of danger, so when the time came to face Goliath he was able to confidently run toward him with no weapon other than a sling and a stone. Is that how you live your life? Is that how I live mine? Are we people that are diligent in the roles and lives God has called us to, so that we are prepared for the battles ahead? Are we people that are running toward victory?

David had a close, intimate relationship with God and that is what truly gave him the confidence, faith, and courage he needed to face Goliath. It was his obedience in smaller things that gave him the willingness to obey in bigger things. David wasn’t perfect, but this part of his life certainly shows how important it is to trust God and serve him diligently in our everyday life because it’s the training ground for when we face “Goliath.” Each of our “Goliath’s” won’t be the same, but I pray that every time I face one of mine I’m able to run toward the battle line with faith, confidence, and courage that the victory belongs to the LORD!

In order to be one that is ready and willing to go to battle when the time comes, I need to prepare for it in my everyday life. As a stay at home wife and mama, that means being diligent to tend to my husband, our children, and our home in a way that is honoring to God. I need to take the time to learn how to be a God-honoring wife, mama, and homemaker. I need to prepare to fight for my marriage and my children in the small things, so that when the big things arise I’m ready. This could look like choosing not to talk badly about my husband to others, choosing not to give in to societal “norms” when it comes to my children, choosing to tend to the needs of my home with an attitude of gratefulness as oppose to begrudgingly taking care of things, and on and on. There are things I can do each day to continue to align my heart and mind with God as I continue to pursue an intimate relationship with Him. Studying His word, praying, praising Him, worshiping Him, acknowledging Him, and so on, is what will help me have the faith, courage, and confidence I need to face my giants with the “run quickly toward victory” attitude that we see David demonstrate in his battle with Goliath.

What are you doing to prepare for future battles? What are some practical ways that you can choose to be diligent in your everyday life? How are you building a more intimate relationship with God?

Song(s) of the Week: This week I chose two songs because they’re both good and they both apply. I chose “Confidence” by Sanctus Real and “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. Enjoy!