Defiantly, Unashamedly, Generously — Worship Defiantly - Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
1 Samuel 17:37
And David said, “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.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (ESV)
When I was fourteen, I spent the first day of summer break in my room playing a video game and embracing the freedom of having no schoolwork. Suddenly, my mom walked in and said one simple sentence that brought my summer dreams back to reality.
“I got you a job.”
Our neighbors owned a plant nursery and said they could use some extra help. So every Saturday, starting at 8am, I’d roll up to the greenhouse, receive my task for the day, and work until the job was finished.
On one of my first days, I was tasked with arranging dozens of plant trays in an open field. The task seemed simple enough, but I made a mistake by not asking for specific instructions. Around lunchtime, my boss came over to check on my progress. He sighed, shook his head, and bluntly said, “Wrong.” I’d placed the plants in the field incorrectly. I’ll spare you the details, but I’m sure you can imagine what happened after that: I had to start all over.
This week, we’re exploring what it looks like to jump into the battle against the evil we’re currently encountering. But what happens when we show up to the battlefield without any idea how to fight? There’s a high probability we’ll end up losing the battle and have to start all over, just like I did. Here’s my point:
We need to know who we’re fighting, when we’re fighting, and how we’re fighting.
This is a key lesson we can learn from 1 Samuel 17. David didn’t start with strategy or tactics; he started with praise. David chose to praise God for who He is and what He’s done (“the Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear”). David also chose to trust God for what He will do (“will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”). That’s a heart of worship!
APPLICATION
Scott often says, “Worship is war.” Here’s what that means: when we‘re in the midst of a battle against our enemy, the best way we can boldly oppose him is by defiantly worshiping God. Listen to this playlist to remind yourself of who God is and what He’s done. Mark your calendars for our next First Wednesday Worship on October 7!
PRAYER
Jesus, I know sometimes the battles I face seem big, but I know You are far bigger. Bring to my memory the many ways You’ve shown up for me in the past, and give me hope that You will show up again this time.