Find Your Strength

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30:6

One of the things I like about David was his realness. You know, he was distressed because his men, his followers, were thinking of stoning him. I would be too. But what made David a man after God's own heart, different than Saul, was that in that moment of stress he found his strength in God. He still had to seek the Lord about what to do. There was still a battle to be fought. He would have to make some discussions that would not please everyone, but he found his strength in the Lord his God.

The lesson for us is that we can find strength in the Lord our God in the circumstances we are facing today. What is the battle you find yourself in the middle of? Maybe you just went through a trial and you've been hit with another crisis with no time to rest. Time to find your strength in the Lord your God. Like David you might find yourself the focal point of blame. Time to find your strength in the Lord your God. No matter why or how you find yourself in a trial, remember: find your strength in the Lord your God. Seek him and fight on in Jesus' Name.

The Spirit and the Skills

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 

Exodus 35:30-34 NIV

We often think that the Spirit only fills people with gifts like evangelism and healing. What we see in this passage is that the Spirit of God enables, or gifts us to serve in many different ways. Bezalel and Oholiab were skilled not only at working with metals and stones and all kinds of artistic crafts but they could teach others to do them. 

Before becoming an educator I worked in construction quite a bit. In both fields I have worked with some gifted and talented people. I believe that the ability to create and make things and to teach others is given by God. We all have abilities and talents that God has given us. The cool part is that God can be glorified in them if we give him the glory. 

So here's the question? What has God gifted you? What abilities has he given you? 

Now here's the challenge (or exhortation): Use your gifts and abilities than God has given you to glorify God. Acknowledge that God has given you those gifts and abilities and thank God or them.