Pursuing PurposeУзорак

My daddy wasn’t a farmer, but he always had a pair of boots. I distinctly remember stepping my tiny, little-girl feet into them and trying to walk around the house. “Trying” is the word to use here, because I wasn’t going to run any race in those ginormous-to-me shoes. They didn’t fit.

When it was time to go play, I’d have to take off those boots and prepare by putting on sneakers or sandals before heading out the door.

When it’s time to live in purpose, we, too, must prepare and put on the armor God gave us.

At this point in our story, David has discovered his purpose, he’s figured out that his process and progress were a part of that purpose, and he’s overcome protests of others. If fear of what others thought ever plagued David, he’s not showing it now. After his speech of confidence to King Saul, the king bought in to David’s purpose and says, “Go and fight.”

We could end the story here, but we’d miss out on something very important that happened next and happens to us as well: Others try to prepare us as they see fit. And, if we have FOWOT, we might just let them and we might just fall short.

King Saul had the best armor, and David knew that. He was the Armor Bearer, after all. And the king himself got a great, well-meaning idea. The king wanted to prepare David for battle as a warrior – not as a shepherd.

I can see it now. David put on Saul’s king-sized breastplate. The heavy sword dangled from the belt, cinched tight in the last hole. Saul reached up and placed a bronze helmet on young David’s head. I don’t know about you, but I’m picturing little-girl me in too-big boots, trying to look the part.

David did something here that only a confident, purpose-driven, man-after-God’s-own-heart could do. He took off what Saul provided and, instead, prepared for battle with what his Creator provided. David wasn’t a war hero. David was a shepherd, needed to fight like a shepherd, and needed to prepare like a shepherd.

So David prepared by gathering his staff, a few stones, and his slingshot – no doubt all items he’d used time and time again when defending his sheep. He prepared the way God intended.

Personal Reflection:

How are you preparing for purpose? What step can you take today to move you toward purpose and progress? Before moving on, ask God to reveal to you one step you can take to prepare for purpose.

NOTE: Many great studies exist on the armor of God. After this reading plan, consider finding a study about preparing for purpose with God’s armor.