Playlist: Fight Songs — Tuesday
Psalm 18:2, 6
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.… In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. (NIV)
No matter what sport it is, what division you are, how bad your team is, or what school you’re at, being a college athlete is no joke.
I loved playing soccer in high school but found it hard to maintain my love for the game while playing in college. Don’t get me wrong; I’m thankful that I got to play and enjoyed my time on the field, but even in D2 of the NCCAA (literally the easiest division in varsity collegiate athletics), it was a whole different ball game. Fun-filled practices became cutthroat training sessions. The pre-game jitters turned into an anxiety-ridden week leading up to a big game. The lively locker room became a war zone with each soldier vying for a starting spot out on the battleground. Every time I walked onto the turf, it was like I was stepping foot onto a battlefield.
Though in a could-not-be-more-different context, David lived a lot of his life on the battlefield, too. When he wasn’t slaying Goliath with a pebble and a slingshot, he was defending the Israelites against aggressive Philistine forces. When he wasn’t running for his life from Saul, he was conquering the city of Jerusalem as the newly-coronated king of Israel.
Yet even in the midst of all of these battles, David sought refuge and deliverance from the Lord. He leaned on the only One able to save. He recognized the severity of his situation and knew he was powerless to change his circumstances, so he did the only thing he knew to do: He prayed. David begged and pleaded in prayer to be delivered from his enemies, and God heard him. May David’s profession in Psalm 18:2 serve as our fight song as we step onto the battlefields in our own lives.
Tuesday’s Reflection
What battlefield are you finding yourself on? Are you at war with your spouse, your kids, your parents, your peers, your neighbors, your boss, yourself, or God? Are you tired of fighting? If so, I hope that you’re encouraged by the fact that God sees you, and God hears you. Find refuge in Him today.