His Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God"

Most of you probably know the story of David, and how he slew the giant, Goliath with just a slingshot and a stone. Have any of you, like me, ever wondered how it was that David was successful in this endeavor while others in the Israeli army didn't even dare face Goliath?

This thought has crossed my mind from time to time when I have read the story. What was it that gave David the courage to stand before the giant? I believe that his secret was simply that he was conscious of the victory that he had in God. and not of defeat. He knew a God who had rescued him time and time again. He knew a God that he could trust.

David probably remembered a day when as he tended his sheep, a lion came and took one of them. Rather than run in fear, David caught it by it's beard and smote it. The Lord delivered him that day from the lion's mouth. Another time, a bear came and took one of his flock, and David did the same thing. He went after the bear and smote it. The Lord delivered him from the bear too. David believed that this same God who delivered him from the mouth of the lion and the bear, would also deliver him from the giant Goliath.

I'm not suggesting that any of you go on a lion hunt..I'm suggesting that there truly are "lions" that come into our lives every day. They come in the form of problems, pain, adversity. David was conscious of what God had done for him. He knew that God was for him, that God loved him and even favored him. He believed that God's hand was upon him, and that he could live a victorious life with God on his side.

Each of us has a choice to make every day. We can choose to feed on the painful memories of the past. We can choose to reherse our failures over and over in our minds, causing nothing but anxiety and fear. Or we can choose, like David did, to simply be conscious and aware of God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. We can choose to feed on God's Word and believing Him..rather than looking at our circumstances and feeling crushed under the weight. God wants to lift us up. He wants to carry us. He lives in us, and we are victorious simply because we are His.

Today remember that the same God who carried David, carries you. I am not saying that real problems and situations will never come. They will..but when they do, the way in which you perceive them is of utmost importance. Your God will not leave your side during the difficult times. And you have received NOT the spirit of this world..but you have received His Spirit. He is with you ALWAYS..even unto the end of the age.