By Sister Shirley Tarpley, NDG Religion Editor
“David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. ‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off.” (1 Samuel 17:39).
David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David. King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor.
David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor. He gave it back to king Saul.
God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David knew who he was and who he wasn’t. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul’s armor.
What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else’s tools.
However, this is only half of the equation. These talents must be mixed with faith. Talent alone is not enough. Faith alone is not enough. It is only when the two are combined that God’s power is released and manifested in the physical realm.
Sometimes we admire the talents of others and seek to emulate them. The temptation arises to be someone we are not. This is a mistake. Let God live His life through the unique you.
Mix your unique gifts with faith today; you will be surprised at the power of God that will be manifested.
Ask God to help you to be sensitive to other people’s needs and feelings. Ask Him to help you to love them and encourage them through special touches, like remembering special occasions through phone calls, prayers, notes, cards, visits, even small gifts at times.
Ask God to help you to always make other people feel special and valued, for we are all His creation and deserve to be valued. Pray that through your words and actions, that God will be glorified and lifted up, and that people will be drawn unto God in the precious name of Jesus.
