Don't Forget Your River Stones - Part 4

Don’t Forget Your River Stones – Part 4

  

“He was fully convinced that God is able to do what He has promised.”
-Romans 4:21

The First Stone is MOTIVATION…  What Is Your Motivation?

Finding the right motivation is the first step of psychological preparation for any battle.  Saul tried to find ways to motivate his men to fight Goliath.  He declared, “I’ll make you wealthy if you kill Goliath.  Yeah, and you can marry my daughter.  And I won’t even charge you taxes on the deal!” (See 1 Samuel 17:25)  But no man wanted any of Saul’s rewards badly enough to fight the giant.  They were terrified and dismayed by the giant’s words.

When David heard Goliath chant his usual threats, David asked, “What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel?  Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

As soon as David proclaimed his interest in killing the giant, his own brother, Eliab, rose up against him, challenging his motives.  In verse 28, he accused David of being conceited and irresponsible.  “You’re supposed to be watching the sheep.  You aren’t even supposed to be here.  Who do you think you are anyway?”  Doesn’t sound like the accuser who attacks our resolutions to change the unfavorable circumstances in our lives?

David’s father was worried about his sons who were at war, so David came to check on their welfare.  Before leaving the sheep at home, he put them in good care of another shepherd.  His reason for being on the battlefield was to take food from their father’s table to his brothers. (See 1 Samuel 17:17-18)

David wasn’t afraid of the giant, as his nest response revealed, “Let no man’s heart fail him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17”32).  David was the youngest, but his actions showed maturity and responsibility towards others.

What was David’s Motivation?

David loved God with all his heart, and he loved others more than his own life.  I guess you could say that David loved God and his fellowmen more than he loved his mother’s home-cooked meals.  He didn’t say, “I would fight you Goliath, but I have to be home in time for dinner.”  No, David wasn’t afraid of missing a meal, but he did fear the name of the Lord – and he didn’t want God’s people to fall into bondage again.

David’s motive was love, and love casts out fear. (1 John 4:19)  You need motivation that is bigger than your fear of the giant, so choose love.  Find someone or some dream to love more than life, and let it motivate your mission to become a person whose life is a testimony to what God can do with those who trust Him.

I love my family more than I love satisfying my appetite for old foods that were detrimental to my health.  I want to be around to see my loved ones enjoying God’s blessings.  The food we are eating is robbing us of our health and energy.    The bigger we become, the more opportunity there is for fear to come in.  Fear that we won’t be around to play with grandkids, children, nieces & nephews, fear that we won’t be able to enjoy being outside and missing out on the blessings that God has in store for use on a daily basis.

It’s time for us not to be afraid of giants anymore!  God is able to do what He has promised, as Romans 4:21 says, our job is to be fully convinced of that truth!  This stone of motivation is your first weapon against the thief who wants to take your life.  Take up your weapon!  A bag of stones may not look intimidating to a giant – Goliath laughed at David – but a small stone in the hand of someone who believed God won freedom for an entire nation!  Though David was only a young boy at the time, his motivation to slay the giant was stronger than any temptation to run at the last minute.

Goliath made a deal with Israel.  Look at the store in 1 Samuel 17:9.  The giant’s wager read something like, “If you kill me, then all my people will serve you.  If you lose, you and your people will serve us.”  Doesn’t that sound like satan?  “If I win, you serve me; if you win, I serve you!”

 David’s motivation was clear: If he won, he kept freedom; if he lost, he became a slave.  How hard would you fight if the stakes were that high?  David knew the battle wasn’t about making him look good in the eyes of those who watched.  He fought to keep his entire nation free from bondage to the Philistines.

Satan hasn’t changed.  He still challenges you to serve him or defeat him.  It doesn’t matter what the battle is.  You could be fighting with your weight, or an impulse to spend money you don’t have, or time-wasters that keep you from investing in steps that lead to a more fulfilling life.

Use the right motivation of love to encourage yourself to face the giant.  Killing giants saves more lives that just your own!  Go ahead, throw this first stone of motivation at the devil.  Catch him by surprise and refuse him the next time he tempts you.

Rejoice and celebrate even the smallest victories over him.  Pat yourself on the back when you’re out to eat and you make a healthy choice for your meal.  Celebrate even the smallest loss in your weight, every loss counts!  Remind the devil that it is written: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (See Matthew 4:4)

To be continued… Next time we explore stone # 2, Understanding.

Until tomorrow, be blessed!

Remember to DREAM!