Then Saul gave David his own armor a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
Memory Verse: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Have you ever pictured being in that positon you’ve always admired so much that you actually visualize yourself there doing the things you assume will give you absolute fulfillment and all the comfort you so desire in life? Imagination does paint beautiful images which close up to virtual reality but reality is often very different from what we beautifully imagine. Let’s apply this to the life of David fighting the uncircumcised philistine.
Little boy David was just minding his business when the opportunity to fight a Philistine champion from Gath came His way. He was just a shepherd boy who must have imagined how those battle warriors feel in their costumes. Going to war was a very popular thing at the time and David’s first opportunity to go to war against a Philistine brought him another opportunity to put on a warrior’s costume, one which belonged to the king. Once David had the opportunity to wear the king’s costume, his first reaction was not to turn in down. He embraced the idea of looking like a proper warrior until he wore them and found them this wasn’t his authentic self. David then said to King Saul “I can’t go in these,” and he took them off and progressed to fight that life changing fight with Goliath being his original self. Others may have trusted in chariots and amours but the little shepherd boy trusted solely in God, the only way he could be himself and believed the battle could be won. 1Samuel 17:19-40.
The victory of that battle came from David being who he was created by God to be and with God on His side, he killed Goliath with the name of God and just one stone. The truth is David was a warrior who had no experience in sword fights so had he approached the battle using swords, shield and amours, he may have lost that battle, lost his life and lost his opportunity to ever become king over Israel. Calculating by size, technicality and skills, Goliath already had the victory in the bag before the battle even started at all. The little boy wouldn’t stand a chance. David though a young boy had the Lord on his side and every step he took was ordered by the Lord 1Samuel 16:18.
If we live our daily lives with God, we will quickly realise there is no need imagining we are someone else. The bible did not record any one being produced as a copy of another thing He created so we were all uniquely like Him therefore we can only fulfil destiny when we stay true to being in our original state.
The moment we amend our original self and are being led by our desire to be like someone else, we lose our original identity of being like God and gradually begin to live in ways that are tailored to be like other people or another person.
While God is leading our lives, it’s important to note that the devil is also leading the life of others therefore it’s important to know that living in another person’s shell may mean we are gradually being led by the devil himself. We are always most effective like David when we approach our everyday life being ourselves.
We don’t have to strive to be like someone else and as the case may be those we are trying to be like may actually have hidden battles they fight to keep up with being who they are. All of these we may not know because they are “hidden” but when we remain our true self, life becomes a whole lot easier than we can imagine.
We are not a copy of anyone, we are the original version created by God and after His likeness, so we will only ever be fulfilled in life when we stick to being our true self.
PRAYERS:
- Father I am grateful for another wonderful day
- Thank you for your faithfulness and truth
- I pray for your unlimited grace today, to live as whom you have created me to be
- Help me not to live in the shadows of others, or use their lives as yardsticks for mine.
- Order my steps just like David O Lord, and let me live at the centerpiece of your purpose for my life
- Forgive me of all my shortcomings O Lord and let your mercy prevail over judgement
- Thank you Lord for answers to prayers, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
