By pastor Aggrey Soyekwo
Looking Back to Look Forward
1 Samuel 17:37 “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”- NIV
This is a familiar story of how a young, ill equipped, war inexperienced David, fought and defeated an experienced, well armed giant, Goliath. When king Saul doubted him, David revealed the secret of his courage to fight Goliath in the verse above. He was fully persuaded that the God who saved and enabled him kill a lion and bear, was able to deliver Goliath to him. And Saul released him. The power of a testimony!
Every victory we experience is built on a previous one or is setting the stage for another victory. This is the reason God told Israel to perpetually hold certain celebrations and memorials, especially to remind them of the slavery and deliverance by His mighty hand. Such remembrance revives faith and energised them to face the present and future challenges with confidence. They would remind them of what God did and can still do. If we won in the past, we can win today and tomorrow because the God Who gave us victory in the past is still the same God today and tomorrow. He doesn’t change.
Friends, let’s not forget what God has done for us before. Sometimes the present or anticipated future challenges look overwhelming as did Goliath appear to Israel and David. As his faith was encouraged by the unchanging God who delivered him from the bear and the lion, and would definitely deliver Goliath into his hand, so shall ours be as we remember what God has done. We can face the future with confidence, tough, imposing and uncertain as it might appear, by looking back to what God has done before. He can do it again.
Psalms 103:2-5 “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Shalom children of God.