(Prov 21:31 GNB) You can get horses ready for battle, but it is the LORD who gives victory.
This morning we continue our series entitled “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Here Solomon continues to flow in the same vein as yesterday’s message where he said: “There is no one wise enough to make a plan that can succeed if the LORD is against it.” The title of yesterday’s message was, “Get God Involved.” I told you that we need to Get Him involved because “there is a dual aspect—God and man, man and God—to our lives… God has a part and we have a part… God’s sovereignty does not alleviate us of the weight of our decisions, but rather adds on us the additional task of seeking God’s will and of aligning our decisions with it.” Now that we know we need to get God involved, this morning Solomon is teaching us that we need to keep Him involved, because we will not experience true victory outside of His grace.
Solomon references a horse and in his day the horse was used for battle. As Soldiers prepared for war they also prepared their horses, because the horse was just as much a part of the battle as they were. A mounted cavalryman had to rely heavily on his stallion, but Solomon reminds all of us that the greatest reliance should be on God Almighty. Without God all the preparation in the world can still lead to utter failure. Now, this does not mean that we should not prepare – because our preparation WILL show up in our performance – but ultimately, our trust must be in God, not our preparation.
The psalmist said it best, saying: “Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the LORD watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone” (Psalm 22:17-22).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Nothing avails against and nothing avails without God.
2. Frustration sets in when you are making a demand on God for something that is not yours to have. That’s why He must be part of the planning process.
3. When you petition the Lord for something that lines up with His will for your life, then not only will you get it, but you will enjoy it, because you will be flowing in your purpose.
4. Remember to give God the glory. Jehovah is a jealous God, He wants ALL the glory due His name. My son was recently accepted to the best culinary school in the U.S., and the only college he has ever wanted to go to. While he did prepare, I reminded Him that we must give God the glory, for without God he would not have experienced the ‘sweatless victory’ he did.
5. While it is true that Jehovah gets the glory, remember that you get the benefits. The Father wants you to enjoy the benefits of walking in accordance with his will and purpose for your life.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for blessing me to find, follow, and finish my purpose in life. I find it, as You progressively reveal Your purposes for my life to me, in ways that I can understand. You purpose gives my effort meaning and vision clarity. After finding it, I am committed to following it. Not only will I get you involved, but I will keep you involved, all the days of my life. My trust, reliance, and faith is in You. Without You I am convinced that I would fail, but with You I am convinced that I am more than a conqueror and I will experience supernatural success time after time after time! And lastly, I will am committed to finishing it! I want to die empty – having gotten out of me all that You have placed IN me. I am blessed to BE a blessing and I shall pour out all that has been poured into me before I die, while am still in the land of the living! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
