1 Samuel 17:48 Are Your Thoughts a “Crazy Circus” or “Beautiful Symphony” - You pick!
My view from “The Chair” this morning - 1 Samuel 17:48.
Since confession is good for the soul, can I confess something to you? Every night I wake up in the dead of night with all consuming thoughts of worry and almost instantly become filled with anxiety. It seems like as soon as I am not in control of what is going on in my thoughts (in other words, I’m not conscious), my mind starts unpacking all the nice little tidy boxes that I’ve put the days worries in and allows them to run free like a clowns at a crazy carnival circus. Am I the only one attending this type of circus in the dead of night? Some how I don’t think so.
For two days in a row I have read this verse over and over. Can I be honest? It makes no sense to me. David “hurried and ran” toward his enemy, Goliath. I don’t know if any of you are like me, but that is not my first response when I have a real or even “perceived” enemy. David had a real physical enemy that was in front of him. It was literally kill or be killed. That was the way of the times. Now, we don’t live in Old Testament times, and literally running toward your physical enemy in attack mode, might not be such a fabulous idea, especially since we are told to “love our enemies.” But like every story in the Bible, I believe Jesus wants us to understand and apply the principles that He is teaching here. First, when you know whose you are, you can “run toward your enemy’ in complete confidence knowing that the battle belongs to God.. Second, Be decisive in your actions once you know what is required. David was decisive in his actions. He ran toward Goliath and knew he was equipped to use his slingshot (he had daily practiced this skill as a shepherd until it became his “ordinary”). Lastly, his actions were precise. He used what was in his hand to defeat Goliath. We might not be facing a literal physical enemy today, but we are absolutely facing a spiritual enemy.
As I’ve awoken these last few nights, I’ve started recalling this verse and these principals. Straight up, I’ve started using my audible whisper voice (don’t want to wake the Mr.) to run into His presence and proclaim “Whose I am”. Then, I audibly take each “issue” that is running around all crazy like and use my own words to ask my Creator to handle it. When I have ran through all the issues, then I proceed to recite scriptures on peace, fear, worry, anxiety. You see, we each have control of our own words, Satan can’t read your mind, but both he and God can hear your words. YOUR words are powerful. Satan will run when you do this and His peace will wrap itself around your heart and mind. He can’t stand it. Be decisive and precise with your audibly words. If you also attend this circus, I would welcome your company each night as we shut down the circus and create a beautiful symphony of words focused on surrender, confession, and worship. Will you join me? Until We Chat Again, The Plank-Eyed Girl
