Go After the Lions

January 10, 2019

379

Go After the Lions

by Joni Eareckson Tada

But David said to Saul,“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 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.”

1 Samuel 17:34-37

Calm and matter-of-fact, the shepherd boy David described his experiences with wild animals in the wilderness: “When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep…. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.” David went after the lions in his life. Rather than hiding from them or cowering at their approach, he pursued them. His courage tells me not to be afraid of my adversary, the devil, when lion-sized trials, heartaches, and difficulties come looking to destroy my faith or tear apart my peace of mind.

We can face our troubles head-on, my friend. Each trial gives us a chance to demonstrate to an unbelieving world that Jesus, the Lion of Judah, is greater than any adversary. In Him we are strong. We are overcomers. We are victorious.

Dear Lord, I need the courage of David today. There are lions in my life, too! I can see them crouching in the shadows. Sometimes everything in me wants to run, hide, deny, or cower in fear. Please give me the strength to face those adversaries and take them on in Your strong name.