Victory

I remember enjoying some great basketball competition over the years. I used to love to play basketball when I was a much younger man. I enjoyed the competition and the game itself. It was always fun to win. I actually have a really competitive spirit in me, but over the years I’ve learned to “season it” some with patience and understanding. I used to think that winning wasn’t everything – it was the only thing!

David, after becoming King of Israel set out to take care of the surrounding nations and keep them from threatening Israel. At one point in the passage I read this morning, the word says: “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.” There is a lot of depth to King David. He was a warrior’s warrior; he was also gentle and kind. He followed the Lord with his whole heart, but he wasn’t afraid to lead out in battle. Check this out…

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. (1 Chronicles 18:9-11 NIV)

David upon defeating these other nations received a great amount of plunder. I’m assuming that when they became his subjects that he took their valuables as plunder. He also received gifts from the leaders of these nations, I’m sure they were hoping to save their own lives. He dedicated these gifts to the Lord, and I’m pretty confident that this was a great source of material when Solomon began building the Temple.

As I look at my day and week ahead, I’m asking the Lord for victory. I certainly want to defeat the enemy who seeks to destroy me. I want to use the blessings that the Lord pours out on me to help build His Kingdom here. I’m learning that if I can win the day today and then tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, I can win the week. If I can win the weeks ahead, it turns into a month and the months turn to years. I want to be faithful and consistent seeking Him and working hard today and every day. I want the Lord to give me victory everywhere I go!

Pressing On!

Dwayne

I couldn’t help but remember this song that I was introduced to by my son Matthew who was at Passion 2016. The song is by Crowder and is called: “My Victory”