The Battle is the Lord’s

2007-04-25

Here are some things to reflect on:

“It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lives.” -Oswald Chambers

“The Battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). “If you can get that into your heads and hearts, there is no need for any further sermon. It is the secret of the overcoming life, the victorious life, the holy life, the happy life, the helpful life... It is not wrestling faith, but resting faith which brings the victory every time...” -Bishop Taylor Smith

“You only fear what you don’t think the Lord can accomplish.” -Pastor Gerry Newswanger

I have traditionally been a worrier. Uncertain things, from the little things as a child to things in my life today have caused me to worry. In more recent times, becoming a church planter has caused me to worry, and because of fear, I had delayed for years in training to be a church planter. I was worried about making waves in the family, living without health insurance for a period of years, having enough money to survive, and having the ability to reach people with Gospel that are very different than myself. Other daily worries often have bothered me as well. If there is a lot to do, or if I am running late for something, I can get frustrated. Blocked goals often come to fruition through anger or frustration. So what do these things mean?

These are all signs of how much (or little) I am trusting God. These things may sound familiar to you as well, for I know countless people that worry. That is why the above quotes strike me the way they do: if we are worrying about such things, we are not trusting the Lord, who knows both the beginning and the end of all things. We may not know how the rest of our lives will fare, but we do know about the end of this age: the Lord wins. He already has won at Golgotha. If we know Him and are on His side, then we are on the winning side.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).