1 SAMUEL 17:28-37
David’s elder brother accused him of immaturity and presumption. Saul took him for an over-confident youth making big talk: “You are only a boy and he [Goliath] has been fighting man from his youth” (v. 33). In other words: You’re no match. You don’t have the experience for such big things! What a reality check! But David saw things differently. Goliath was in for a reality check-right between the eyes. He would suffer the same fate as any beast that ever preyed on David’s sheep. First, this overgrown Philistine was outside the covenant. Second, Goliath had defied the armies of the living God. Amid a national crisis of fear, David’s confidence rested firmly on 1. the record of God’s covenant faithfulness, 2. the honor of God’s name, and 3. the anointing of God’s Spirit. With faith like that, we can face every giant-sized challenge confronting the church or nation today. Let no one lose heart.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For the power and influence of modernity against the supernatural witness of the church to be neutralized
- For the hate propaganda of the media to be exposed and halted
- For honest, fair government in these multireligious, multiethnic nations we live in
- For the binding of unleashed demonic powers of our nations
- For the blood of the Lamb to break cultural bondages in our nations
- For God’s blessings upon the waterways of our nations
- For our nations to be blessed with enough rain
- For climate conditions that are favorable for sowing and reaping
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For a return to Biblical theology and holiness in our congregations
- For cultural adaption to make worship relevant and welcoming to unbelievers
- For the awakening of a vision for evangelism and outreach to non-Christians
- For the church to have a healthy relationship with all Christian NGOs and support ministries
- For the defeat of the enemy’s efforts to weaken the church
- For the church to continue fulfilling the divine commission despite persecution
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in Somalia.