The best of your past can be the boost for your future.
”David chose five smooth stones from the stream.” 1 Samuel 17:40 NIV.
My thoughts today are, “your history is His story.”
We have been looking at Psalm 23 the previous weeks. And we will return to David’s psalm, but we should pause and look at the man, rather than his words. After his public devastation of Goliath, he had some street cred to review.
David and Goliath are a favorite story of mine. Against all odds, David achieved monumental success. Would you like to know his secret? Solutions and success to challenges are seldom simple. Consider the example of David and Goliath. Read 1 Samuel 1:7.
A shepherd boy courageously challenged a seasoned warrior and a towering giant as well. Almost as a footnote, the Bible records, “David chose five smooth stones from the stream and he put them in a shepherd’s bag.” 1 Samuel 17:40 NIV. What an odd piece of information in such a dramatic situation.
Ever curious why David selected five stones? The Bible does not explain, which allows us to consider why he might have done so. Apart from God, five ordinary stones are not much more confidence-building than one.
If you are serious about succeeding, consider more than one way to achieve your goal. You need the attitude of, “Whatever it takes!” Maybe David chose five stones because he did not know which one God would direct to its mark.
I suggest “five stones” that contribute to your meaningful accomplishments.
- Do not forget successes. Learn from failures. Understanding both of those avoids further mistakes while celebrating victories. Do not recall every painful failure while discounting triumphs God helped you achieve.
- Let the best of your past be the boost for your future. Your history becomes His story. Here is how David recalled his story. “God who delivered me from the lion and the bear will deliver me from this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37. Let your faith and focus strengthen expectation and determine new achievements. Always move upward and press onward. Paul was clear. “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13-14 NLT.
- Focus on God’s honor more than your reputation. Success is not about your accomplishments and acclaim. Your success brings glory to God’s Name. Challenging Goliath, David was clear. “I come to you in the Name of the Lord Almighty . . And everyone will know the Lord does not need weapons to rescue His people. It is His battle, not ours.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47. Confession affirms your conviction of faith in God’s glory and your victory.
- Success does not come to spectators. While Israel’s soldiers sat on the sideline and cowered in fear, David engaged his opponent with passion and purpose. “Who is this that he can defy the armies of the living God? Is there not a cause?” 1 Samuel 17:26/29. David became personally engaged. Success is not determined on the sidelines. Victory comes when you join the battle.
- Never give up on a Godly goal. It is said that “Success is 10% ability and good fortune, and 90% perseverance.” But there is much more to success. “In everything David did, he had great success, because the Lord was with him.” 1 Samuel 18:14 NIV. Success builds on your history of effort and perseverance.
My prayer for you today is to experience the satisfaction of your best efforts.
EDL Communications 2020 (71716)
Website and Archives: allenrandolph.com
Facebook.com/everydaylife.allenrandolph