Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Slaying the Giants” – Wednesday, 16 April 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 56:1-13

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Slaying the Giants” – Wednesday, 16 April 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 56: For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.

    All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.

2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long,

    for they are many who fight proudly against me.

3 When I am afraid,

    I will put my trust in you.

4 In God, I praise his word.

    In God, I put my trust.

I will not be afraid.

    What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words.

    All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They conspire and lurk,

    watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

    In anger cast down the peoples, God.

8 You number my wanderings.

    You put my tears into your bottle.

    Aren’t they in your book?

9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call.

    I know this, that God is for me.

10 In God, I will praise his word.

    In Yahweh, I will praise his word.

11 I have put my trust in God.

    I will not be afraid.

    What can man do to me?

12 Your vows are on me, God.

    I will give thank offerings to you.

13 For you have delivered my soul from death,

    and prevented my feet from falling,

    that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

“Slaying the Giants” by Cynthia K. Stiverson

The boy who killed the giant was destined to be king. Goliath taunted the entire Israelite army. Yet, David approached him with confidence that seemingly matched his youth. King Saul offered his personal suit of armor for this battle. David the shepherd refused, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). His weapon was five small stones and a slingshot.

The Psalms reveal the depth of David’s dependence upon God. They offer an intimate peek into the mind and life of the man that exemplified “God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). They give a lesson to the power of journaling our prayers. God often reveals answers through pen and ink.

Take a moment to reflect on times when God has delivered and protected you. Journal your thoughts and write a prayer of thanksgiving. Surrender your current fears and reclaim your trust in the Lord who has delivered you!

Next time you come face to face with the giants of life, respond with the confidence of David, “I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:46).

Hymn for Today:

“Soldiers of Christ, Arise” by Charles Wesley

1. Soldiers of Christ, arise,

And put your armor on;

Strong in the strength which God supplies,

Through His eternal Son.

2. Strong in the Lord of Hosts,

And in His mighty power;

Who in the strength of Jesus trusts,

Is more than conqueror.

3. Stand then in His great might,

With all His strength endued;

And take, to arm you for the fight,

The panoply of God.

4. From strength to strength go one,

Wrestle, and fight, and pray;

Tread all the powers of darkness down,

And win the well-fought day.

5 That, having all things done,

And all your conflicts past,

Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone,

And stand complete at last.

Thought for Today:

“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Prayer Needs:

That the compassionate ministries among the poor and in disaster areas of Asia-Pacific will people how much God loves them.

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