home  |  about us  |  contact us    
   
 
Stay the Course - Saturday, March 24th, 2007

“Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, ‘What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?’…Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, ‘Why have you come down?  And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle. ‘ But David said,’ What have I done now?  Was it not just a question?’  Then he turned away from him…’
~ 1 Samuel 17:26,28-30

Life is full of challenges.  For some of us, we are faced with discouragement.  For others, we might be facing depression.  Maybe the day looks impossible. Whatever we are confronted with, and individual reminded me yesterday, the question must be asked, “Are we still STAYING THE COURSE?”  Do we let others’ views and opinions affect our demeanor throughout the day?  Do we let others’ actions control our mind?  Or do we pursue our desires with the focus that David had toward defeating Goliath?  In 1 Samuel 17, David encounters his older brother Eliab.  After David spoke of his excitement for confronting Goliath, Eliab was quick to criticize his younger brother.  He was quick to discourage David.  In fact, he judged the heart of David.  But did David let this discourage him from the path that he was on?  Did he stray from the course of defeating Goliath?  The answer is NO!  David was determined to stay the course. 

Unfortunately, the discouragement didn’t stop with Eliab’s comments.  David had to deal with the down-and-out words from King Saul.  Saul was in desperate need of someone defeating Goliath, yet when David volunteered his help for the Israelites, Saul said, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.”  Saul didn’t think highly of David and his desires. Thankfully David didn’t back down.  He knew with the Lord’s help, he could defeat Goliath.  He explained to Saul how the Lord has prepared him with experience in the pasture defeating aggressive animals.  He wasn’t afraid of the big Goliath.  He believed the Lord would deliver him from his enemy’s hands.  David stayed the course!    

David hadn’t even confronted Goliath, yet he was speaking as if he would.  This takes a strong mindset.  He was thinking BIG PICTURE!  And I must be honest, I pray for this mentality.  I pray that as we pursue revival in the city, that I stay confident in what the Lord has laid upon my heart.  But I will be honest; life tends to throw at each of us many curves for the day.  For me specifically, I begin to wonder where the rest of the finances will come from.  I begin to wonder where the volunteers will come from.  I begin to wonder about the promotional side.  Will others even hear about the tent-revival?  So I begin to question the course.  I begin to dwell on the “unanswered.”  Yet, then I remember all that the Lord has done up to this point. *Why do you think Moses was constantly telling the Israelites all that the Lord has done in their past?  Because we all tend to forget how the Lord has worked in our lives.  I have a short-term memory, and God wants me to never forget His faithfulness in my life.  The Lord reminds me to remember the great amount of speakers confirmed, the number of worship teams excited to participate, and remember the parking lot?  Who could forget the 3-story parking lot dropped from heaven? 

Revival will come to this city.  How?  I don’t what shape or form it will take. I don’t know when it will happen.  But I mustn’t be discouraged with the quiet moments in the planning.  The phones might not be ringing off the hook for others to volunteer.  The emails might not be pouring in to offer financial support.  Yet, I must remember to make myself available to what I have been called to.  Because I believe that as I confront the “comfortable and secure” church, I too will see a great awakening here in the body of Christ of Dallas. Just as Goliath laughed at David, I too will face the doubters.  I too will be confronted with those will call me foolish.  In fact, many will question the lifestyle I have chosen. Yet I must stay the course.

Please join me in using the life of David as an example for our own lives today.  Even in the thick and the thin, we each must lives that exemplify Jesus Christ at all times.  Therefore, when we are in the midst of pursuing the Lord, we will not falter.  We will not grow weak.  Rather we will rise to the occasion in order to defeat the giants within our own lives.  But we must remember to STAY THE COURSE! Because when we do, I believe God will allow us to know and experience a LIFE-CHANGING TRANSFORMATION within the city of Dallas. 
-klm
" We cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again."

- G. Campbell Morgan


 
   
© 2007 www.dallasrevival.org All Rights Reserved.
 
Website Design and Website Development by Chakery Design