25/ 07/25
Joel Osteen Ministries
Today’s Word
Today’s Scripture
“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”
Jeremiah 32:17, NKJV
Messy Places
Do you ever have thoughts that the God who is so precise, so detailed, that He causes the earth to rotate down to the millisecond and has stars, planets, and galaxies fit perfectly in place and stay in order is somehow going to falter in His plan for your life? Do you think He would ever let something happen that wasn’t designed, a bad break or a messy situation, keep you from your destiny? If He made a mistake with you, you would be the first one.
You’re going to go through some messy places, things you don’t understand, weaknesses that you haven’t overcome, but it’s all a part of the process. It may be uncomfortable, you may have brought the trouble on yourself, but it’s not a surprise to God. When He designed your plan, He took it into account. Despite the wrong choices, despite the dysfunction, despite the delays, what makes you think God’s not going to bring to pass what He promised you? You’re under construction. That’s part of the process. It doesn’t mean God’s not going to finish what He started.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are my creator, architect, and builder and that You are working through a specific plan for my life. Thank You that I’m under construction even in the messy places. I’m growing, I’m coming up higher, and I know that You’re going to finish what You started. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
In the eyes of the world, what could be weaker against a trained and fearsome soldier than a young boy who had no formal military training, no armor, was dressed in a humble shepherd’s garb, and did not even carry any real weapons other than a sling and five smooth stones from a brook?
It is no wonder that Goliath mocked this young shepherd boy and his strategy. When David stepped into the battlefield, Goliath asked him sarcastically, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (1 Sam. 17:43).
The implications of this battle were massive. It was not just a duel or contest between two individuals. The Israelites and Philistines had agreed to each send a warrior who would represent their nation. The defeated warrior would commit his entire nation to become servants to the other nation. It would be an understatement to say that a whole lot was riding on this one fight.
And who does God send to represent Israel? In natural terms, He sent possibly the most unqualified person onto that battlefield in the Valley of Elah.
David was not even a soldier in the army of Israel! Do you remember how this shepherd boy ended up at the battlefield to begin with? David was there to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers who were in the army (1 Sam. 17:17–20)!
And yet, David found himself standing on the battlefield as Israel’s representative against the haughty Goliath. From delivering bread and cheese, he was now called upon to deliver the entire nation of Israel.
David was at the right place at the right time because he humbled himself and submitted to his father’s instructions to deliver bread and cheese to his brothers. Beloved, this is something you need to understand. Submission to God-appointed leadership will always cause God’s favor to flow in your life, and you will find yourself, like David, at the right place at the right time!
The Bible says that we should not despise the day of humble beginnings (Zech. 4:10). There is nothing glamorous about delivering bread and cheese, but David did not despise it. And that put him right in the Valley of Elah, the wind blowing in his hair—a young shepherd boy with no military experience representing the nation of Israel against a mighty giant who was a man of war from his youth.
This is what God loves to do. He loves to take the foolish and weak things to shame the wise and mighty things of the world. So beloved, humble yourself and submit to the authorities that God has placed above you. And when you are faithful to carry out small tasks assigned to you, His favor is released in your life and you might just find yourself doing great exploits for God!
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