Prepared for Battle

David prepared for battle by choosing stones for his slingshot. How will you prepare for your battles?

“He took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had … and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.”—1 Samuel 17:40 NASB

Saul tried to dictate how David would fight Goliath. He wanted David to conform to standard uniforms, weapons, and strategy. But none of these things worked for David. He told the king, “I cannot go with these, because I have not trained with them” (v. 39).

David knew that to be successful, he had to fight with his own weapons. He could not use the equipment prepared for someone else.

He turned to the sling he had trained with and used, a weapon in which he was confident. Then he chose five stones that fit his requirements, and he was ready to confront the enemy. As David fought with weapons that were right for him, the Lord enabled him to achieve a great victory.

If we want to succeed in our battles, we need to follow David’s model. We must remember that we’re all unique, with unique gifts and talents. God has prepared each of us in unique ways, and we serve unique positions in the body of Christ.

How has He prepared you? With what weapons are you called to fight?

Be confident in God’s plan for your life. Follow His call, and give from what you’ve been given. Seek excellence in everything you do. Don’t give in to compromise, but seek God and obey His Word. With Him on your side, you can be victorious, no matter how big the giants in your life may seem!

Reflection Question: What can you do today to prepare for your next spiritual battle?