Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Youth: Life Focused on the Word of God

1 Samuel 17: 32-50

Vs 37 “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.” Saul said to David . “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

            All life endures struggle. It is through struggle that we become stronger, “refined by the fire”. If we never understood struggle, then our life would become stagnant. In this story of David, we see how important it is to not back down from that struggle. No one would have expected David to fight. But, David through courage and faith in God knew it was necessary to keep hope alive in his people and family.

            David was able to face Goliath because he had faced insurmountable odds before. Despite the chances, David risked his life because he knew he had to protect first his sheep, and later his people. Out of all the Israelites, David was the only one with the courage and faith in God to know he would win the battle. Deuteronomy 31:6 states “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave your nor forsake you.”

 David was not discouraged by the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 17: 45 “David  said, “ You come against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” We may have discouraging situations and difficulties coming against us, but God has placed us out of reach. They can’t defeat us. We may feel like we are surrounded by an army, but the truth is we are surrounded by God’s favor.

 Through our faith in God, we will have strength to overcome difficulties and obstacles. Living life is not about avoiding challenges but being able to face them with God and growing from them in a manner that not only benefits ourselves but also those around us.

PRAYER

 Help us, O Lord, to always trust in You. We pray that we always remember You are with us and that we should not be afraid or anxious about anything.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

Dr. Prathik Manuel Philip & Liba Thomas Philip

 St. Luke's Mar Thoma Church, FL

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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