1 Chronicles 18

Well, sometimes there is a very simple and easy lesson about God in the chapter for the day. Today was like that. As I read the chapter that recounted David’s military success, I noticed that one thought was repeated a couple of times: "The Lord gave David victory wherever he went." (vs 6, 13)

Do you think that God’s victories are restricted to the battlefield? I certainly don’t! God is in the business of giving victories in all areas of life—especially personal areas. Most of us won’t command an army on a battlefield, but we all wrestle with internal enemies—impatience, holding grudges, greediness, lust, laziness, unkindness, selfishness, etc. And God is ready and willing to give us the victory on these battlefields, just as He gave David victory wherever he went.

What I find interesting (and a bit sad) is that many of us go through life still trying to gain the victory on our own. Either we don’t trust that God can do His good work in us, or maybe we’re unhappy with the timeline. Maybe we think God’s not working fast enough! (You know, you’ve heard the prayer of the impatient person: Lord, give me patience, and give it to me NOW!)

But, in 1 Chronicles 18, it’s clear that David—for all of his hard work and diligence in fighting his enemies—did not procure his own victories. It was the Lord who gave him the victory wherever he went. And the Lord who gave David the victory wherever he went is also able to give us the victory wherever we go. Ask Him for His help, and wait for His strength to arrive in the right time, and you will watch all your enemies disappear!