Valley of Victory
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 16:47
In Biblical times, valleys were often places of warfare. Many of the Bible's most epic battles were fought in valleys. Many of our own battles are fought in the valleys of life, but they aren't meant to be places of defeat and discouragement. We don’t have to wander aimlessly in uncertainty, doubt and fear. Valleys can be places of great transformation and hope.
The reason we feel helpless and hopeless in our valleys is because we tend to magnify our problems when we should be magnifying our God. Worrying, complaining, venting, comparing, competing and arguing are some of the ways we give power to our problems. Every one of these bad habits makes our problems look bigger, much like looking at something through a magnifying glass.
We often spend more time thinking about our problems than we do praying to our God. This causes us to feel anxious and alone.
Goliath was a formidable foe. He was a hulking, ten-foot giant who taunted the Israelite army and sneered at them and their God. For forty days the Israelites stood paralyzed by fear, unable to advance against Goliath. They allowed the enemy to get inside their head, to second guess their identity as warriors and sons of God.
When young David made it to the frontlines with supplies for his brothers, he heard the beastly giant yelling insults and sprang into action. He begged Saul to let him fight the giant. When Saul scoffed at his youth, David boldly testified to how many times God had delivered him in the past. He courage and confidence convinced Saul to let him take on the giant, and well, we know the rest of the story.
What empowered David to take such a powerful stand against the enemy?
He magnified His God instead of his problem.
He didn't give his enemy any power despite what it looked like. He chose to focus on the size of his God, rather than the size of his problem.
Is your prayer life more negative than positive? Are you fixated on your problems, or are you praising God in your battles? Think about what you think and pray about. You might be surprised.
He remembered God's faithfulness.
God had done it before, and he knew He would do it again. He recalled all the times the Lord had come through in times of trial. Reflect on your own walk with the Lord. Read old journals to see God’s past faithfulness. Meditate on His Word so that you can encounter His character.
When you picture your current trials, do you see them without God’s intervention? If so, rethink them with God’s presence and faithfulness. How does that change your perspective?
He proclaimed God's goodness out loud.
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
David’s heart was so filled with passion and conviction for God that it overflowed from his lips.
What’s in your heart that you’re proclaiming out loud? Words have power. Words create worlds. Speak God’s Word out loud. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate God’s promises and recite them out loud.
The battle is His. He will fight for you in the valley.
