Published by admin on 23 Sep 2002 at 01:42 pm
THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL
What better way to start the new year than from on top, and not from beneath? In Deuteronomy 28:13, God said, “And thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them. And thou shalt no go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.”
There is no better way to start a new year than deciding to live each day giving your life to God, and each day doing your best to please Him. You can start this year from a position of victory instead of defeat. The devil would like you to believe you are defeated before you even go out on the battlefield, but the truth is, he is the one who is defeated and not you. God would have you set your eyes steadfast on Him, and not waste your time looking at how big your problems are.
Let’s take a look at the story of David and Goliath, which is written in 1 Samuel 17. When the Philistines were gathered together against Israel, the Philistines sent a champion of war named Goliath to challenge the armies of Israel. He defied Israel to send a man of war out to fight him. And he said if he wins, then Israel will serve the Philistines, but if Israel wins, the Philistines will serve Israel. And the armies of Israel were afraid.
To make a long story short, David, a young shepherd who loved God, said, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the Living God? And he told King Saul that he would fight Goliath. King Saul said, You can’t fight him, you’re just a kid. This man has been a man of war from his youth. But David answered him, that while keeping his father’s sheep, that there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of his flock, and he went out after them and killed both the lion and the bear, and delivered his lamb out of it’s mouth. And he said the Philistine would be as them, seeing he had defied the armies of the Living God.
So King Saul gave him his armor and sword and helmet, but David couldn’t go with them, because he hadn’t proved them. So he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, and took his sling in his hand and met the Philistine. Goliath cursed David and said, Am I a dog that you come at me with a stick? And he told David come, and he will feed him to the birds and the beasts of the field. David said, You come with a sword, I come in the name of God and He will deliver you into my hand. Well, you know the story, when Goliath came, David ran to him, and threw a stone out of his sling that sunk into Goliath’s forehead, and Goliath fell on his face on the ground. David took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head.
What am I telling you all this for? Two reasons; one, so you will know the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. Two; David didn’t look at how big Goliath was. The armies of Israel did that. That’s the reason they were afraid of Goliath. They trusted in their own strength and they knew it wasn’t enough to deliver them to victory. But David, on the other hand, looked at how big God is, and how small Goliath was. David didn’t measure his success against the size of Goliath, but by the size of God. If you will face every problem from God’s perspective, it isn’t a problem at all, but an opportunity to show the power and glory of Almighty God. God isn’t worried about if He can win the battle. Why are you? Who are you putting your trust in, yourself and your ability and strength, or God? If your trust is in God, the victory is already won. Why not then act like it? Stop acting like the tail, and start acting like the head.
There’s an old saying, “If you aren’t the lead dog, the view never changes.” There’s a new view today, the view of victory, the glory of God! Start shouting praises to God for the victory is already won, not going to be won, but has been won! Remember…..you’re the head, and not the tail. You’re a child of God. Act like it!