September 9, 2021
Our Best Plan for the Future
Katy McCown
Today’s Truth
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” (1 Samuel 17:37 ESV).
Friend to Friend
I knew I would have to leave the house at some point. But at the moment I couldn’t muster up the courage.
Just outside my window I could see what awaited me when I decided to open the door. A spider … the size of my hand. Not the size of my palm. Not the size of my fingers. The size of my hand. My whole hand.
I’m not positive I had ever seen a spider so big in my entire life, and seeing as how I scream and jump at the sight of a tiny spider, you can imagine my response to this one. Of course this happened at a time when my husband was away, and I was not only in charge of loving and caring for our six children but also the designated spider handler. Hence my plan to stay in the house as long as possible.
In the meantime the toilet overflowed. Then later that day, after I finally found the courage to handle (or run away from) the giant-sized spider, a warning light on my van lit up.
These are the kind of days that make you want to crawl back into bed. As a young mother it was days like this one that also prompted quiet questions in my heart. I wondered, does anything about this day matter? Is there any purpose in this day at all?
The activities I participated in and the problems I solved seemed meaningless at times. The days felt unnoticed and unimportant.
Today’s Truth sheds a different light on the importance of matters like this, “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’” (1 Samuel 17:37).
David said these words as he stood before King Saul poised and ready to fight Goliath. When David presented his case to the king about why he was the guy to take down the Philistine giant, he pointed to what he had learned of God’s faithfulness and might during his days as a shepherd.
David's time as a shepherd included lions and bears that came looking for sheep from his flock. As the shepherd charged with protecting his sheep, David would have been the one to face these predators that threatened his flock. Those battles, however, weren’t witnessed by others. Those victories weren’t celebrated. Yet it was those encounters that prepared David for Goliath.
When David saw Goliath he didn’t see a boy versus a giant. He saw a Philistine who dared to defy God (1 Samuel 17:26). David knew Who he fought for, but knowledge alone didn't catapult him to chase down the giant. David stood armed with proof of his knowledge. David's experience of God shaped him into the shepherd boy who took down a giant.
I wonder how many times David held his slingshot in sight of a lion or a bear. How many times did he pick just the right stones? How many times did he put a stone in the slingshot and fire it at the advancing predator to his sheep?
Surely David didn’t know that his faithfulness in the fields would lead to triumph in the fight. Yet he did not approach his tasks absent-mindedly or half-heartedly. He invested in his role as a shepherd, and it prepared him for his day as a champion (1 Samuel 17:50).
David’s story encourages me on the days that don’t feel exciting or important. Whether we see it or whether we don’t, today is a stepping stone for tomorrow. We can walk with Jesus today, confident He’s preparing us for tomorrow.
As we begin to apply this truth to our lives, even the most mundane days will become more exciting. We can anticipate God’s work in our lives and look forward to how He will use each and every moment.
How does knowing God is at work in your life every day help you invest in the assignments of today? Click the comment button and let’s share.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for being a part of every moment of my life. I want to delight in Your plan for today. It’s exciting to know that no matter what today brings, You have a purpose for it. I trust You will use every moment, big and small.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Can you think of a time in your past that taught you about something you needed for your future?
How does this event in David’s life change your perspective about the things that may seem insignificant or unseen today?
More from the Girlfriends
Katy would love to give you a free download of 10 Scriptures to Help You Find Joy for the Moment. Click here to get your free copy today!
© 2021 by Katy McCown. All rights reserved.
Originally published Thursday, 09 September 2021.
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