What Do We Need

1 Samuel: 17:38-40

“38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.”

What is it that we need?  Sometimes the things we have weigh us down and cause us to move slowly or not at all.  David was weighed down by the armor that Saul thought he would need to fight Goliath.  So, he took them off. Instead, David chose simple weapons that enabled him to move quickly, to adapt, and to adjust.

The decision to remove the armor of Saul was an act of courage, an act of faith in himself and his abilities, and an act of faith in God.   David knew that God dwelled within him in a powerful way and would enable him to accomplish His will.

John Wesley once said “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”

More often than not, we think we need many things to accomplish God’s will when in reality these weigh us down.

Maybe we should take off the heavy, shiny armor, strengthen our faith and pick up the smooth stones from the stream.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)