by Shauna Millar | Jun 14, 2023 | encouragement, hope, strength
I suppose you have heard or read the story of David vs Goliath. [1Samuel 17] The important part here is not that Goliath was a giant, and was undefeatable. In 1 Samuel 17:49-51, David defeats him.
49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
Now, while I have jumped to the “end of the story”, there was a lot in the beginning. First, we recognize David was still a shepherd. He was also the youngest of his brothers. The three eldest had already joined the army and were following the king. The Philistines issued a challenge. Send one out to fight our champion and if you win, we will be your servants, but if we win, then you will be ours. Even Saul didn’t want to go out and fight him.
The importance of this is that Saul was king. He should have been the one to stand up and lead by example. However, we see that he and his men “shook” from fear when Goliath issued his challenge. Which he did for 40 days before David came into the picture.
David was young. He was filled with faith and belief in the Lord. He knew the Philistines were nothing that God couldn’t handle, yet everyone around him was afraid. David stepped forward in faith. He volunteered to stand up against an almost 10-foot giant. He knew God was on His side and would help him prevail.
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
We all have giants in our lives. We all have something that seems overwhelming, and while history shows a lot of wars that were fought that also had the victors overwhelmed by the invading armies’ numbers, they too prevailed. We need to remember that what God has done for others (David) He will do for us. He is the SAME God today that he was yesterday, and He will be forevermore. This means that we can trust that He will rescue us no matter the situation.
God CAN change the direction we are heading. We can overcome this overwhelming evil that is so prevalent in our society today. How? The Bible tells us we have to first seek God. Are you in a situation where you don’t see a way out? Are our children’s lives important enough to fight for? Should we be standing up for our rights? Do we seek God first? When was the last time you looked into His word to see what it says?
2 Chronicles 7:14 – which I am sure you have read or heard – states:
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
What can one man do? Well, let’s look at David. He loved God. He believed in Him. David was also flawed and failed. Yet, he didn’t allow his failures to guide his life. What he did was constantly seek God. He would ask for forgiveness. The book of Psalms is filled with the praise and failures that David felt. Yet, God saw fit to take a shepherd boy and make him a King. One of the most influential and well-known kings in history. We still talk about him today.
I am not saying that God is going to raise you up to be a king. After all, God knows the plans He has for us and each of us follows a unique path. Sometimes our paths will cross, sometimes we will journey together, yet no matter where God is leading us; He is in charge and will direct our feet.
It is time we get back into the Word. We need to remember what God says. The Bible has all the answers we will ever need or want. From how we are to act, to how we are to protect our homes and families, to who we are to serve. You may face a giant in your life. Just remember, nothing is bigger than God. What He did for the Israelites against the Philistines, He can do for you. Trust Him. Follow Him. Read His Word. Pray. Let Him help you slay the giant. You don’t have to do it alone.
by Shauna Millar | Jun 8, 2023 | encouragement, General, strength
There are a lot of pressures in our world right now. None is more clear than the willingness of Christians to stand up and be counted. There has been a lot of silence with what has been happening. The pressure facing Christians is more and more prominent in public education and, in particular, our children. With CRT (Critical Race Theory or whatever name it currently goes by) and explicit sex education beginning in Kindergarten, we need to make sure we are not only praying but getting involved.
Matthew 18:5-7 states:
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
Recently, in our town, there was a reading and showing of one of the more explicit books at our local library. People showed up to pray for those children. Sadly, parents brought their children to learn and listen to what was being taught. Five- and Six-year-olds have no business learning about sex. They should be out playing and being children instead of being groomed. We should protect their innocence. Letting them learn to play. Directing them along a path that will allow them to not become involved in what the current world agenda offers. When a baby is born, for a parent to automatically dismiss its gender based on pressure from the world is wrong. Telling a child that they are a different gender is wrong. Yet, we are seeing these types of things more and more.
It is an agenda that continues to grow and transform into new and more evil forms of “reality”. There are those who say that we all have our “truths”. No, there is one truth. The rest is how we lie to ourselves to make it okay to accept what is going on. The Bible tells us everything we need to know; how to handle what is going on. What we should do, say, and how we act or react to situations. There is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
We know that throughout history, children have been taken advantage of and exploited. While a few years ago there were the “rights of the child”, we no longer see anything like that. Once again, an agenda is being imposed on our children. It’s an agenda that starts early and continues as they get older. The rise of transgenderism in our youth has become prevalent. It has reached a critical point, where they are being given chemical castration drugs and unnecessary surgeries in their formative years. How many individuals have had this type of surgery and have now, in their early 20s, admitted it was a mistake? Children, no matter their age, need to be allowed to explore who they are and what they want without a permanent solution being forced on them as if it was their idea.
While I was very much a “tomboy” growing up. I have an older brother who I looked up to and wanted to be like. I wanted the things he had because I adored him so much. However, later in life, while I still enjoyed some of those things, I discovered who I was independent of him. I became my own person, wearing dresses and heels, and discovering my own unique beauty. Those of us who are older have had that opportunity, yet we say that this new generation doesn’t get to do that. They must make a life-altering decision without discovery.
The children are our future. Without them, there is no future. The freedoms we have known and enjoyed, this next generation may never know, if we don’t shine the light on truth and share it with them. They are being told which direction to go and how to get there. Without the influence of Christians in their lives, to be a light for Christ, what type of future will they really have? What does this mean? We need to be involved at every level. Not just as parents, but as grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, and more. We need to step up and offer a different solution. We need to not judge, for judgment belongs to the Lord, but we need to offer a helping hand and be there.
We are all sinners saved by God’s grace. We need to remember that, and be an example of what Christ can do when we let Him. There has been a spotlight that is shining on revival in our lands. We need that revival now, more than ever before. We need to remember the truth. We need to get in – and stay in – the word of God. We need to pray and remain firmly rooted in Him. This is the only way we can reach out honestly, with strength, encouragement, and love. The battle is the Lord’s. We are His army and we need to trust in Him. Pray for God to show you the direction that He wants you to go. Pray that He will give you strength and not let fear of being “canceled” out stop you from stepping out. Move forward in His word and in His will.
Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Be willing to say, “Here am I Lord, use me” – and mean it.
by Shauna Millar | Apr 30, 2021 | faith, hope, prayer, strength
It seems as if we are surrounded in a world filled with fear. Society around us has decidedly changed. The enemy is doing his best to steal, kill and destroy. We can see it in every aspect and walk of life. There doesn’t seem to be any corner left untouched.
Fight or flight is the general response to fear. It seems more people would rather just bury their heads in the sand and hope everything gets better. We know that faith without works is dead. However, did you know that faith is the opposite of fear? The bible tells us to “fear not”.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
It can be difficult to find our faith when we are under attack – when it seems the enemy has created an impenetrable stronghold. Yet, our God stands with us. Firmly. He protects us. He keeps us in the shelter of His wings. He walks with us THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
He is with US – with you, with me – WHEREVER we go. There is no place where we travel that we are alone. God is with us. When we are weak, He is strong. We can call upon His strength. We can pray and communicate with our Heavenly Father and He will provide for us what we need, when we need it. The complexity in that statement is knowing that it is in HIS time, not ours.
Just because we want something NOW doesn’t mean that we will get it NOW. There are reasons we are told to put on the full armor of God daily. That armor will get beaten and battered, it will get worn in, but not worn down. We need to continually renew our hearts and minds.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
When was the last time, you took your time to spend in the presence of God?
We may struggle with what is happening in this world. We may struggle with what is happening in our lives. There is so much destruction. There is so much desperation. There are so many who have lost their way. There are so many who doubt that God exists. There are so many who don’t have a personal relationship with Christ.
It is our gift to be able to share our light with others – so that they may know Christ through us. How can we do that if we are living our lives in fear of what is to come? Or fear of what is happening around us? It is the strength of our faith that helps us move forward. It is the conviction of our hearts that allows us to stand firm.
Even with all these things, if we aren’t spending time in the presence of God, if we aren’t making time to pray and communicate, we are allowing ourselves to get worn down. When we are weary, it is easier for us to find ourselves not only under attack, but not able to stand the attack. It is easier for our minds to be compromised with thoughts that aren’t uplifting but are filled with fear and despair.
I encourage you to renew your faith today.
I encourage you to spend time in the presence of the Lord. Be in the moment with your Maker. Don’t let the distractions of the day seep in and take the blessing of time spent under His wings in renewal. Let your heart be filled with worship and praise. Let your soul dance in the presence of the One who made you. It will help you to be restored, refreshed and renewed.
It is in these moments that our faith grows stronger. It is with these moments that we find we can turn our faith to works. Don’t allow your faith to wither on the vine and die. Instead, allow it to flourish and grow. Allow it to give you strength to fight for what is right. To move forward in strength and conviction. To share love in a confused and struggling world.
We know our nation needs to turn back toward God. We know that with every step the enemy takes to remove God from our lives, we come closer to being a faithless, corrupt country. We need to stand up, not sit down because we are worried about who will say what. We need to take back what the Lord gave us.
We need to also remember we can’t do it alone. We can’t do it with our own strength. We need the Lord to guide us, to lead us, to be a part of our movement. We need to seek His will in our lives.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
You are not alone on this journey.
by Shauna Millar | Jan 8, 2021 | encouragement, strength
As we look around at the world we live in, it can feel oppressive and depressing, yet we also have hope. Hope is the one thing that can bolster our spirits when all else fails and our personal world feels as if it is crumbling around us, . Hope, like Faith, can be looked at as an intangible factor. In other words, it is not something we can reach out and physically touch. However, it is something that not only can touch our lives but can give us strength to move forward.
There are times when we are walking through the valley of life. When we look up, we can’t see the sun shining. We have to force ourselves to press on – to take one more step forward – to inhale the next breath, as we are tempted to give up in the face of the exhausting struggle with the world seemingly so dark around us. We want to sit down – or even better, lay down, curl up into a ball and just disappear. In these moments, it is easy to consider giving up. Yet it is also these moments that the spark of Light which dwells within us ignites into a powerful thing called hope. It is the hope that taking the next step – and the one after that – we will see life and the challenges become little bit easier. It is the hope that once we climb our of the valley of darkness, we will reach a plateau of light and warmth. (more…)
by Sue Forde | Nov 24, 2020 | Observations, Patriotism, strength
A famous quote from Thomas Paine from the book “The Crisis” (1776) talked about the tyranny in his day from the English King, who was taxing the American colonists to the point of poverty, and where freedom was limited to what he, the King, determined it was.
There are certain liberties that come only from God – among them, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our founding fathers and the patriots of that day put their lives, their own liberties and their livelihoods on the line to resist the tyranny and bring those individual freedoms to this beautiful land. We have the words of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitutional Republic as a result. (more…)
by Shauna Millar | Jun 26, 2019 | encouragement, strength
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
KJV
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
KJV
Have you ever gotten to a point in your life, where nothing seems to be happening? You pray and you pray and still, nothing is breaking free? Where you really want something; to make a move, to get a new job, to have a great relationship, yet it seems like it just isn’t happening. Of course, there is always a reason; they passed you over for someone else, the place you wanted got sold before you even had a chance to look, etc.
Life is filled with obstacles and at times they may seem like they are overwhelming and impossible. We discuss the problem with family and friends. We tell them about our woes. Sometimes we even pray with them over and over about what to do in this situation and for God to work a miracle.
I want you to know that there are always three parts to every situation. Yours. Theirs. And the truth. You see your truth, isn’t necessarily the entire truth. It is skewed through our perception and filtered through our feelings. We feel that the world isn’t fair (well, it isn’t). That others are keeping us down. That God isn’t hearing our cry. That is our truth.
Our truth is the one we deal with. The one we work with. The one we share. Our perception of truth is based on our emotional state and what we feel to be true. Yet, we aren’t all knowing. We can’t see into the hearts of others and therefore we don’t know their truth.
When we rely solely on our faith to get us through and stand back to wait and see what God is going to do, we are following a truth that we feel in our hearts. Following our path. Yet, when we seek God in His temple, and we meditate on His word, we find His truth.
We know that we can say to a mountain, move and if we believe (have faith) it will happen. We don’t follow it up with the second part of that truth; Faith without works is dead.
What?
Faith, you believe it will happen, without works, you doing something to help make it happen, is dead. (It is not going to happen.)
Think about it. God is our creator. He is the maker of heaven and earth. Of the light and the dark. Of everything in between. He can do anything. God is also a father. A good father knows His children. He knows what we need. He knows that giving us everything we want when we want it is a bad thing. Our learning to rely on His guidance, learning how we are to accomplish what we set out to do is a good thing. There has to be a balance. We need to work to learn who He is in our lives. We need to actively seek Him out to discover His attributes.
Just because we ask for something and we believe we are going to get it doesn’t mean that it will happen the way we expect in the time frame we have set out.
God DOES answer our prayers. He says, “yes”. He says, “no”. And He says, “wait”.
It is often our impatience and our decisions that lead us to where we end up and away from where we should be. God may have something magnificent planned for you, but you may decide to get off that path and by doing so, delay your miracle. You take a detour.
God has given us free will to allow us to do this. We get to explore and experiment. We even get to wait for a while. We actively participate in the things that happen in our lives and how and when we are going to get there. It is not being dictated to us, we are free to choose. When we live in fear – of making a move or fear of not being an active participant and think that the mountain is going to move on its own, we run into trouble.
As fun as science fiction and fantasy are, they don’t line up with our realities. We need to work to get to where we want to be. If we don’t work or take action toward the goals we want to achieve, either we won’t achieve them, or they will be delayed.
If you want to climb a mountain, you might have to walk through the valley first. You won’t reach the top until you take a step and start to climb.
Seek God. Pray. Meditate. Then take a step in the direction you want to head and see what happens.
