JUNE 15–21: FIVE STONES

Come Follow Me “The Battle Is the Lord’s” 1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7

We love the story of David and Goliath! When we feel small, we can find hope.

So what were the tools David took with him to defeat Goliath the giant? A key take-away is that David didn’t go into the fight on his opponents terms of hand to hand combat, for he would be certain to lose such a fight. He changed the battle, using his own practiced strength of precise aim. He removed all the heavy armor and weapons that were unfamiliar and weighed him down, picked up his proven sling, and gathered five small stones.

I’m going to borrow from a talk given by Sister Andrea M. Spannaus in April 2024. She acknowledges that it only took one stone to take the giant down, yet David was prepared and carried the five. Let’s consider what these stones might represent.

1. The stone of my love for God.

2. The stone of my faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are blessed to have David’s own words that express his love for God and our Savior. Psalm 30 ‘Lord my God, I will praise you forever.’ ‘Sing the praises of the Lord... I will exalt you for eternity... In Jesus name I call unto you and you heal me.’

My God, I Call Unto You. Psalm 30 - St. Laurence’s Church Chorley

3. The stone of the knowledge of my true identity.

Tell yourself, again, right now - ‘I am a child of Heavenly Parents’. With that understanding, can you feel the difference in how you think and what you will do next? Repeat the phrase as often as you need - when you’re in doubt, when you’re facing a choice, when you’re belittled by someone, when you need to face the truth.

‘You took a shepherd boy and made him a King, so I’m gonna trust you and give you everything, I’ll be a conqueror ‘cause You fight for me, I’ll be a champion claiming Your victory.’

Confidence - Sanctus Real

4. The stone of my daily repentance.

Turning from our sins and mistakes isn’t turning toward punishment, it is turning to freedom from bondage. Sure, we may need to repair or make amends for our wrongs, but let’s be clear about what truly keeps us bound. I hear from so many of my friends that going to prison was the best thing that happened to them, for it set them on a path of redemption, to put their past in the past and become something more like themselves.

‘I’m not afraid to show you my weakness, my failures and flaws; Lord you’ve seen ‘em all, and you still call me friend.’

Graves Into Gardens - Elevation Worship

5. The stone of my access to God’s power.

Can we actually access God’s power? Partnering with him in covenants give us promises that He will always be with us. Even when we don’t feel Him near - He is near, as He promises to be. Turning to Him in faithful prayer aligns our thoughts with His, allows His love to dwell in us. Yes, that’s power to make a difference.

‘I go to God in prayer, I can always find Him there.’

When God Dips His Love In My Heart - Petersens and Chapmans

I hope you carry a pocket full of these five stones. Take them out and finger them occasionally, feel how solid they are.