Winning the Battle

"Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the LORD, 'Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?' The LORD answered him, 'Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.'" 2 Samuel 5:19

After David was crowned king over Israel, the Philistines, Israel's long-time nemesis, attacked with hopes of overthrowing David before he was firmly established. David's reaction was not to move immediately out to battle but rather to move into the presence of the Lord and seek His direction. Inquiring of the Lord before making major moves was a pattern in David's life. This was surely part of the reason he was called "a man after God's own heart."

One thing we can be sure of is that our enemy, the devil, will attack us and seek to dislodge us from our firm commitment to the Lord (see 1 Peter 5:8). We must learn that the battle is not won by drawing on our strength to counter attack but by seeking the Lord. The Philistines were not only Israel's enemies but they were God's enemies and so he gladly delivered them into David's hand as long as David depended on Him. The devil is not only our enemy but he is first and foremost the enemy of God. God will gladly lead us to victory over the devil's attacks if we will learn to seek and depend on God in the battle.

Father, whether great or small I will surely be attacked today by Your enemy the devil. Give me the humility to find strength for the battle in prayer that You may win the victory.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark