Thank you, Nancy, for your thoughts on David. He picked up five smooth stones to go and face the giant Goliath. Did David not trust God or was he simply preparing to face his enemy? No one would think that such a small shepherd could face a heavily-armed warrior. No one could believe the shepherd had refused the armor of a king and chose five stones instead. It only took one stone to defeat Goliath. Was David ready to face more?
God gave David the victory. I can close my eyes and think of the hushed awe that spread across the Philistines' camp. A shepherd had killed their mightiest warrior! Would anyone even dare to cross David's path? Would he be willing to face off a man using stones to kill? Surely they understood the awesome power that backed David!
So when we go to face our "giants," do we come prepared with five smooth stones? I may suggest the stones are the following:
- Preparation: As we study God's Word, we will know the right way to go.
- Prayer: just as David knelt to pick up the stones, we should kneel before God.
- Power: Christians bring the power of the Holy Spirit with us.
- Purity: We must go with the right motives--are we doing this to be closer to God?
- Patience: God will answer the prayers and our actions will have an effect.
So what is your Goliath? Do you have your five smooth stones? Just one more thought: those stones were made smooth by a river. Have you been washed in the river? (Acts 2:38-40)
