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August 11, 2024

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YOU ARE NOT ABLE...YOU ARE BUT A YOUTH

"Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15

It is interesting to observe how man evaluates any given situation. We have been trained to calculate the weakness and strength of our opposition, the intrinsic value or importance of a given objective, or the cost to achieve our goal. All of this within our own ability, wisdom, or resources. We speculate, debate, and determine how it will all turn out. The final results will be within the limitations of what man can devise, contribute, and produce. This, is "the way of man."

God's Word reveals intriguing encounters where the "Man of God" overcame circumstances far beyond his capability. Often he faced the enemy that far exceeded him in strength, power, ability, and resources...but he was victorious because his "strength" relied in One outside himself...God Himself! When David was sent by his father to take food to his brothers, he heard the blasphemous shouts of Goliath. He was indignant that he would insult God and stand in arrogant pride and disrespectful defiance.

David was not intimidated by Goliath. A man of enormous physical strength, experienced in warfare, who stood as an impenetrable foe before him. David was just a youth, probably still in his teens, who had never engaged an enemy in battle as his older brothers had.

Without hesitation he proclaims..."Let no man's heart fail him; thy servant will go and fight this Philistine." Let me ask you. Why was David so confident before this demanding giant that he could speak so boldly? He was not a soldier. When offered the armor of the king, he simply says, I can't use these, "I have not proved it." When King Saul was told what David had said, the king's reaction was..."You are not able, you are but a youth." There was only one in that whole gathering with the king and his army that "looked beyond" the strength, ability, and power of man...and that was David.

His eyes and heart were focused on ONE outside himself...ON GOD! He knew God was all sufficient for every encounter, every circumstance, every foe. He doubted not, and went forth with a sling and five smooth stones, with a committed faith in Almighty God. God gave him a glorious victory over an incredible enemy in an impossible situation.

A devastating encounter as far as man is concerned. But, man discounts the "supernatural power of God." Man does not even bring God into the equation of his life. Therefore, he must fight life's battles within his own limitations. How different was the perspective of this youth who said..."the battle is the Lord's." WOW!

Let me ask you: How do you encounter your adversaries, your trials, your adversities? What a tremendous difference GOD makes when we, as David, encounter our foes in the might of God's power, going forth "to conquer" with unwavering faith in our ever-faithful God! Not in our strength, but His...for the battle is the Lord's.

"Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10). This is God's Covenant to us. Let us go forth with renewed determination, persevering faith, daring to trust Him, whatever we encounter. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14).

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://www.litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-08-11


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