When we know who we are IN CHRIST, we will no longer strive to be who we’re not.  When we completely know how deeply loved we are by the Most High God Who is our Father, how awesomely thought of we are, how faithfully looked after we are, how fully attentive He is to us, how He sees us with knowledge and compassion, how He unfailingly pursues us, the certainty and confidence we have IN HIM rises up to a higher degree.

I have been and will always be a fan of David and his story with Goliath is my favorite.  I just love how he confidently and unwaveringly trusted the Lord that the most feared “champion”, Goliath, never even bothered him an inch.  I believe his being a shepherd boy gave him so much time to commune with God as he tended the sheep, worshiping Him with his harp, and developed that sense of belonging to the Most High God Who enabled him to kill a lion and a bear with his bare hands when no one was watching.  His identity was marked as the one whom God delivered and protected that made him assuredly and undoubtedly say, “The Battle is the Lord’s”.

Before David came, no one dared to face Goliath.  In fact, two verses stated how they were “dismayed and greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11) and that “ALL the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid” (1 Samuel 17:24).  No one dared to cross the line.  No one had a revelation of the covenant that God had given them. Their identity was tainted and adulterated.  In spite of the signs and wonders that God showed them, there eyes were still veiled to see what God can mightily do.  But David had a beautiful and intimate relationship with God that made him assertive and assured that if God delivered him from the paws of the lion and the bear, who is this uncircumcised Philistine?  David saw beyond Goliath’s physical appearance and ability.  He saw that Goliath did not have a covenant with God, thus, his trust was on his stature and his armor.  He was banking on his own human ability.

Look at how Goliath was armed … “And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.  He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.  And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders.  Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.” (1 Samuel 17:4-7)

Saul on the other hand responded the same way when he approved of David fighting Goliath.  His way was just as Goliath’s, banking on his own weapons and ability yet considered himself inferior to the giant.  “So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.  David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.  So David took them off.” (1 Samuel 17:38-39)

David was not used to trusting the things of men but of the Living God.  He stripped off Saul’s armor and put on the shoes that God customized for him to walk on.  He chose to be himself just as God created him to be.  His confidence was in his identity of who he was in the eyes of the Mighty Deliverer Who is his Shelter, his Strong Tower, his ever present Help in time of need.  He knew that when he fights, the Lord fights for and with him.  He knew his covenant with God so well that became his solid ground on which he confidently stood on.  “Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:40)  David was in his element therefore he was confident to do it.  His complete trust in God was his FULL ARMOR (Ephesians 6:10-18) that enabled him to move forward, beyond the line where the men of Israel stood in fear and fought a good fight of faith AND WON!

Talking of identity, I recently saw the movie “Moana.”  I may be late in watching but I was encouraged to see her drive to cross beyond the reef.  She was told and was convinced how dangerous it is.  Though strongly warned, she tried to cross it yet failed and eventually succumb to the tales and dangers that were told to her from generation to generation.  UNTIL one day, her grandmother told her something that has been forbidden to be told all those years.  A new revelation was revealed.  A new identity was born. She discovered that they, her bloodline, were VOYAGERS.  She suddenly came to know her true identity and because of that, she became UNSTOPPABLE.

Christ in us, the HOPE OF GLORY, always give us the platform to stand with a confident expectation of victory.  We fight a good fight of faith and win for the battle is the Lord’s. His Blood didn’t only redeem us but Jesus is Redemption Himself.  He is not only our Healer, but Healing Himself.  He didn’t not only give us the gift of righteousness, but He is the Lord of Righteousness Himself.  He is not only the Lamb of God but He is our High Priest forever, the perfect Offering and the perfect Offerer Himself.  He won the victory for you and me at the cross when He said, “IT IS FINISHED!”  He gave and sealed us, who believe in Him, the identity of being His beloveds.

“I belong to my Lover and His desire is for me.”  (Song of Solomon 7:10)

When we know who we are in Him, that we are His children deeply loved by Him and in the same way we know who He is to us, our Heavenly Father Who is always with us, fights for us and holds us with His righteous right hand in the presence and power of Holy Spirit, what can man do to us?  When we know that He Who is greater lives inside of us, who can come against us? No one and nothing!  Therefore, confidently know your identity that always gives you victory in every way.

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6 ESV)

 

Prayer:   Father, thank You, for powerfully revealing to me WHO I AM before Your eyes and WHO YOU ARE before mine.  Thank You, Jesus, that because of Your shed blood, You made me worthy to come boldly before Your presence to be overshadowed by You whose power no foe can come against.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for always quickening my mind to align to Your thoughts of my identity of being Yours.  Thank You for Your grace that empowers me to stand against the wiles of the enemy and for the assurance of victory for it is You Who fights for me.  Amen!