Fighting Your BattlesSample

In the Bible, I like David because he remembered who he was while facing all kinds of opponents. Everybody knows him as the underdog who took on an actual giant and won, but David could also tell you a lot about overcoming family struggles. He dealt with opposition at home, not just on the battlefield.

David was the youngest son in a big family. He was also the shortest among them. Nobody in his life took him seriously between his youth and his size. Not even his own dad, Jesse. In fact, when the prophet Samuel showed up in Bethlehem to anoint the future king of Israel among Jesse’s sons, the older man introduced Samuel to all his boys except David. They looked the part, tall and intimidating, just like Israel’s current king, Saul. But we’re told in 1 Samuel 16:14 that God’s Spirit left Saul due to his disobedience. In other words, God had His eye out for different qualifications for Saul’s successor; His focus was on traits like heart, humility, and faith.

With your choosing comes your calling. The God who chose David for His team is the God who chooses you. The difference is, once you’re on the Lord’s team, you don’t just remain a player in His eyes. You become family. To paraphrase Ephesians 1, “You’re chosen. You’re blessed. You’re adopted. You’re redeemed” (verses 3-7).

In order for you to remember and be ready for your battles, God puts verses like these in front of you—to show you who you are:

1 John 5:4, “For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world.”

John 16:33, [Jesus said,] “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:37, “We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

Romans 8:30, “These whom [God] predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

What we see in David in 1 Samuel 16, just after he’s been called, can also be seen throughout his life if you read his entire story: from our calling comes our confidence. The calling is key because who you are overrides whoever you’re up against. Whoever is standing against you, God is backing you. He has picked you. And now, as one of His chosen ones, you have access to all the team’s resources: the coaching, the support, the camaraderie—and the winningest Playbook in the universe, the Word of God. Even more so, you have inherited every bit of power and authority that comes with the family name.

But it also means you’re expected to live like it. That’s a lot of pressure if you try to do it yourself.

Thankfully, we don’t have to go it alone. The ones He calls are the ones He equips. The ones He calls are the ones He readies: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of [David’s] brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13 ESV).

The Spirit of the Lord was on him. From that day forward. That’s the difference in any Christian’s life.