Your Armor Looks Good on You

Welcome Back Leaders! 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve invited you along with me to dive deeper into David’s story.  During the first week, we looked at how God trained David carefully, over time, with purpose and unexpectedly to complete a task which brought glory to God.  And, if he did that with David, He’s working in you too!

Next, we studied David’s response to Eliab’s verbal attacks. 

Now, we will look at the third, and final, lesson.

We last saw David in Saul’s tent, asking him about Goliath.  With a little convincing, Saul agrees to let David be the one to fight Goliath.  To make sure he was battle ready, Saul:

“dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.” I Samuel 17:38 & 39

Two thoughts emerge here.  One is a kid wearing his daddy’s clothing.  Cute, but not quite what David needed.  The second, is a conversation my sister and I recently had.  We’re doing a study about spiritual warfare and the recent lesson focused on the armor of God.  We took a moment to visualize ourselves donning said armor, imagining ourselves as the Christian soldiers God called us to be, and had a good laugh.  There we were, weighed down by the heavy armor, shaking in our proverbial boots, mustering all the strength within us to hold up the sword and shield.  I wonder if that’s how David felt in Saul’s armor.  Weighed down.  Hesitant.  Weak.  My guess is, it was, because the story continues this way:

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “Because I am not used to them. So, he took them off." I Samuel 17:39

Now, please don’t think that I am telling you the full armor of God is not needed, because it is!  That is not the connection I am trying to make here.  The connection is –

God knows what weapons and armor we need.

David walked around in Saul’s armor, trying out Saul’s weapon, and realized what I think I would not have.  I can’t go in these.  I’m not comfortable.  This is not me.  And took it off.  It’s crazy!  Can you imagine going to face your giant without well-fitted armor.  Well, David couldn’t either.  Even though in my mind, the full suit of armor and a sharp sword seems more suitable, for David, it just would not work.  He was okay with that.  He owned it.  And we need to too!

How many times have we done this?  How many times have we tried to face our battles using someone else’s weapon?  Tried to do it someone else’s way because it seemed better.  How many times have we talked ourselves into believing our way isn’t good enough?  That we need to do it someone else’s way.

I can’t answer for you, Leaders, but I can answer for myself.  Way too often.  Every day.  Many moments in every day.  I often look at the “weapons” God’s given me and feel ill-equipped.  I feel as though my armor is tarnished, battered, and useless.  I’ll admit, all too often I look at other people’s skillsets and think, “If only I could…” or “I need to be more like…” or  “I should work more on…” or “Why can’t I just…”, and eventually, over time, in a long, slow, arduous, reoccurring process, I remember it’s because I am not them.  Because God crafted me to be who I am.  He made my weapons and my armor uniquely for me.  Perhaps the reason they feel awkward on me, is I am not owning them.  I’m desiring something that does not suit me.  Leaders, this whole realization makes my soul sing:

I came from the mountain, the crust of creation

My whole situation made from clay to stone

And now I'm telling everybody

I don't want to be anything

Other than what I've been trying to be lately

All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind

I'm tired of looking around rooms wondering what I gotta do

Or who I'm supposed to be

I don't want to be anything other than me

Gavin DeGraw "I Don't Want to Be"

Leaders, this is the third and final lesson I want to share with you from David's story.  We don't need to be anything other than who we are.  God created us, equipped us, and trained us uniquely.  To be you.  So the next time you face a battle, I pray you'll remember David's story.  I pray you'll remember you already possess the skills necessary for this battle.  While you may think they are not suited for the purpose, God knows they are.  He uniquely designed your weapon and armor for you.  For this situation.  For this moment.  Wear them with strength and dignity.  Wear them shining like the warrior of God that He made you to be.

Once again, I'd like to leave you with some visuals to post, pin, paste or ponder as reminders of these truths.  

With Love (and Prayers) from the Kitchen,

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