Hope

David said to Saul, ‘Let no-one lose heart on his account; your servant will go and fight the Philistine.’ But Saul answered David, ‘You cannot go and fight the Philistine; you are only a boy and he has been a warrior from his youth.’
  ‘The Lord who rescued me from the claws of lion and bear’ David said ‘will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’
1 Samuel 17:32-33,37

The Philistine Army is drawn against the Israelites in battle and their champion, the giant Goliath, has struck fear into King Saul and his army. The youth David looking not on the might of Goliath but on the might of his God, confronts Goliath and kills him.

I was watching the Hunger Games movie last night (sixteen year old daughter is my excuse). President Snow said something not original but profound. “The only thing stronger than fear is hope”. Everyone has a Goliath to confront at some time. Something strikes fear into our hearts, causing us to lose sight of God, to lose hope. 

David’s hope was stronger than his fear. He was fearful, as shown by him stockpiling five stones to confront Goliath, not just one. However, his hope in God was stronger than his fear and this gave room for God to move powerfully. With David’s hope in God, one stone was enough.
Today, every day, is an opportunity to excise my hope in God, no matter what Goliath may come.

Praise to you my Lord Jesus Christ. I place my trust in you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Stand Up

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height for I have rejected him; God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.’
1Sam.16:7

Samuel has been sent by God to Jessie's house to select a replacement for King Saul. Jessie has no shortage of fine-looking, strong sons but God rejects them all, selecting the insignificant boy David who is out tending the sheep. As fine a boy as David is, it's his heart that impresses God.

David grows up to be a great and courageous king, yet it is probably his fall for which he is most remembered. This "man after God's own heart" commits adultery with Bathsheba and then plans the murder of her husband Uriah to attempt a cover up.

This story gives me great hope. It means that God, who knows the darkest corners of my heart, still calls me and anoints me. None of my sins are a surprise to him, yet he still pours his love down over me. Today I live out my day as an anointed Son of God. I can "stand up and lift my head" as his chosen one.

Father in Heaven, you know my heart, both its radiance and its darkness. Yet you still love me. Help me see myself rightly today, as you see me, a chosen and loved son.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

A True Friend

...they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’
Mk.2:4,5

A huge crowd in and around the house in which Jesus is preaching stops four men caring a paralytic on a stretcher, but not for long. Climbing on to the roof, they tear a hole in it and lower their friend down in front of Jesus. Seeing the faith of the for men, Jesus forgives the man's sins and then heals him of his paralysis.

Jesus is moved by the faith of the four friends, not the faith of the paralytic. Intersession is powerful in moving God's hand. My prayers for family and friends, even for strangers, can release God's healing power in their lives. More importantly, it can lead to their sins being forgiven. The healing of the body is of benefit in this world only. Healing of the soul is for eternity. My true act of friendship is to intercede to God on their behalf.

Lord Jesus, I place down before you my wife and five children. Heal them in body, mind and spirit I pray, that you may be adored and glorified.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Multiplication

‘This is a lonely place and it is getting very late, So send them away, and they can go to the farms and villages round about, to buy themselves something to eat.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’
Mk.6:35-37

Jesus steps ashore to be greeted by a large crowd. He sees the crowd as sheep with no shepherd and is moved by pity for them. After teaching them at some length, the disciples want to send the crowd away to fend for themselves. Jesus says no, the disciples are to meet their needs. The disciples puny contribution of five loaves and two fish are miraculously multiplied by Jesus to feed five thousand.

This event was big news in its time and is still big news now. Jesus' miracle needed something to work on or nothing was going to happen. Zero times one hundred is still zero. But five times one hundred leaps up to five hundred! A contribution needs to be made for Jesus to work on.

No matter how big the problem (five thousand mouths to feed) I am to make my contribution in faith, no matter how small. Jesus will then do the rest.

Lord Jesus, you invite me to be part of every day miracles by doing my bit. Help me to be an optimist, trusting that you will honor my puny efforts, that you will multiply my loaves and fishes.
Little Flower, please pray for me.