Victory A Second Time- Part 2

In the first part of this series we see the “back bone” of why David is able to have victory a second time….but chapter 8 of 2 Samuel gives us even more insight. (click here for part one) 

In the last post we also talked about David’s prayer to God, why it was beneficial to his victories and how it transformed his mindset.  Today we are going to be talking about the after effects of his prayer.

Verses 1-9 tell of just some of David’s victories.  He defeated the Philistines, he defeated the Moabites, and lots more in between those verses.  Why would God care to put all of David’s victories in this chapter.  Is He trying to make us jealous of David? Trying to make us think we need to join a fighting force to get “victory”. No, I think it is quite the opposite.  God is not telling us David’s victories to showcase David’s life, but to showcase who He is.

The verse that we based this small series off of, once again, says “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.”  “Gave” is the term here that catches my attention. The NASB version of this verse replaces that word with “helped”, King James version says “preserved”.  Many different versions but one idea…this was not David’s doing, but it is instead what David was taking from what God had placed in front of him… and in turn using for God’s glory.  Meaning, David wasn’t robbing God of what God wanted to give David.  David remembered God’s promises, and walked in it.

Victory a second time is knowing God will be there to guide you time after time if you obey Him.  

“King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued…” – 2 Samuel 8: 11-

How do you view victory?  Victory is for “ME”, for often times than not.  Victory is about me proving I can make it…but David shows none of those worries. His victories are not meant to prove himself to God, but to prove to others that God is AWESOME.

David kept reaching for more, knowing that God would stop him from reaching for more in the proper time. So many times in my own life I only reach for what I know I can already do, instead of reaching out to what Christ can do.

The more David walk in God’s promise for Him the more God is qualifying him by the way He is “pushing him further.”  Don’t be discouraged if you feel pushed beyond what you can bare….God is making you to be more like Him.  David treasured forever(2 Sam. 7:25) and he remembered what God had revealed (2 Sam. 7:27).

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Victory  a second time is less daunting now….still a little rough around the edges here and there, but seen through a possible light.  I can have a good day and then have a good day again, I can have a small victory than have a small victory again only when I go to God in prayer.  When we see victory through the eyes of the cross and not through the eyes of our abilities, than victories big or small will always seem more possible.

Our better becomes best when our “getting” better is shaped by wanting God’s best for our lives.

With Christ like bubbling love,

Julia

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to not consider victory without first considering where I am with you.  Thank you for what you have done for me, and forgive me where I have failed you. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN. 

Who/ What Do You Rely On?

In tennis you can play singles or doubles.  I favor singles more than doubles…why?  Because doubles brings about a sense of relying on the other person, and if you fail, it effects your partner.  I don’t like that expectation.  So, this topic fits quite nicely into today’s topic…Who/what do you rely on?

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In Isaiah 36 we see this question come to life. A royal spokesman for King Sennacherib confronts Hezekiah about this very topic…lets take a look….

“This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? ⁵ You say you have counsel and might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?” – verses 4-5- 

Who Hezekiah was relying on was not a “what” that needed to be picked up to be used…but a “who”… and that who being the living God.  Where is “might” found in an army? weapons? numbers? Here is where the spokesman for the King responds in unknown empty words, because of his empty faith.  It’s almost like he is asking Hezekiah to not only explain himself, put help him believe as well.  Do we ask God out of a sense of knowing or wanting to know?

“ Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. ⁷ But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar”?  – verses 6-7- 

So, answer the question yourself.  What do you base your confidence on?  If what you rely on/ what you have confidence in has to wait on you to use it….then our reliance and confidence will be delayed. God doesn’t have to wait on us to use us. He doesn’t have to wait on us to get to a certain point in our lives to start working through us, every part of our life is for His glory.  Relying on Christ is just that, He doesn’t have to rely on us…we have to and need to rely on him.  He doesn’t have to rely on us to “show up” He will always show up. 

“Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!⁹ How then can you repulse one officer of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? ¹⁰ Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this land without the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.’” – verses 8-10- 

A domino effect is what relying on people and “things” creates. Relying on a chair requires you to know how to sit on it.  Relying on your strength requires knowing what limits it.  Yet, relying on God requires you to follow along and trust Him, understanding is not always required… just belief in Him.

God doesn’t bargain He doesn’t say I will give you my strength if you do this, or if you know how to say this.  God gives us His strength in every circumstance.  Strength that does not rely on how ready we are or the lack there of. God’s strength is steady, consistent, and always there

Verse 9 gives us another point of view to look through….

Can we have two feet in two separate puddles when it comes to trusting God?  Can we trust the spokesman and the weapons, and still have FULL trust in God.  No, the weapons have too many levers to push and the king has too many orders we have to follow.  It’s God or it’s nothing.  It’s full reliance on God, or full reliance else where.

As Isaiah 36 rolls on the battle between what is real and fake goes on.  The people can’t get over the fact that  God can deliver them….they have trusted in their gods, and look where that has brought them. They can’t get over the fact that something better and bigger can happen.  When we rely on ourselves we except average , but when we rely on God we hope for above average.  The speed in which we excel or do the opposite doesn’t effect God.  Like the doubles example in the beginning, the mistakes that we make don’t effect God.  He doesn’t love us less and His plans for us don’t become less than either.

Our true colors of who we rely on come out when we say “I can’t”

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As we draw this study of Isaiah 36 to a close, our minds may be doing the same.  But before your mind completely closes the curtain ask yourself, “Who/ What Am I Relying on?” It makes all of the difference!  The Jesus difference.

With Christ like bubbling love,

Julia

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to rely on  you and choose you even when there is a line of other “weapons” to choose from. Forgive me where I have relied on myself, and lead me out from that place.  In Jesus; name I pray, AMEN. 

Choose Life.

I wasn’t not going to go…I had to go.  My mind was having an attitude and my heart couldn’t keep up.  I could choose to have a good attitude and smile through it, or I could choose to pout and have major regrets later.  In other words a major battle between “choosing life” or “Choosing death.”  The examples go far and wide on how this concept applies to our lives.

God provides us with His Word to add yet another example of how we are to “Choose life”.  In Deuteronomy 30 verses 11-30 God gives Moses and the Israelites a certain command. Take into consideration  how long the Israelites have been traveling! Our life is a journey….this command God gives to the Israelite’s is the same thing He is telling us  in this season in our lives.  Verse by verse God’s message is clear…lets take a look…

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;  in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.” (verse 15) 

The ability to see beyond the “death”  is to accept the control God has of your life, and obey His commands.  God has set before you life and death, He has also set before you the instructions to live by a “life giving” mind set. 

God has set before you BOTH life and adversity, but by choosing life you are choosing to live through adversity with hope.

“But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them.” (verse 17)

The key to choosing life…obeying God’s commands.  Like we covered above, God’s commands are more “in the know” than our plans.

Choosing life  includes giving “life”  qualities to hope, belief, and courage. Along with choosing “death” comes a “death” to all things that are meant to bring “life” to our lives.  It’s a choice within a choice.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live  and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (verses 19-20) 

Choosing life is a way of choosing to live “fully” the life God has made for you. Choosing life will strengthen our relationship with Christ….it can sometimes be a hard thing! Choosing life, is choosing to abide in your Savior’s most treasured plans for you.  

This verse is a  sweet message to us from a Savior who knows the situation we are in, but encourages us to choose to live through it. He has a reason for the suffering. He knows the “chiseling” that will take place to make us into His image.

“Choose life…For he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you live in the land the Lord swore to give to your father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30: 19-20

Hold tight, and hold fast to who God is…and he will give you the strength to choose life in a situation that screams “death” to all things…hope, belief, courage…etc. ” (from God’s Little Breadcrumbs on Instagram)

A little heart to heart…

“Every summer brings about a load of curiosity….will it be different from last summer or the same?  Yet, I know that by choosing life before hand, will help me to be fully present weather what’s to come  screams death or life. Choosing life will help you to see your life the way God has chosen it to be.  When I was doomed  for eternity in hell…God stopped the “operation” and choose life for me.  God choose life for me, I will accept His choosing and walk in it…will you?”

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How will you choose life today?  Adversity is promised, but so are blessings and one constant never changing thing…..God’s love.

Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior?

“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”   – Acts 16:31 –

With Christ like bubbling love,

Julia

Dear Heavenly father,  It seems that it gets harder and harder to choose to live through what hurts me.  Help me to  live by your example and follow your commands. In Jesus’ name I pray….AMEN.