Have we allowed people’s opinions, our own insecurities, or circumstances to talk us out of something we know God has destined for us to walk in? Do we see ourselves as not good enough, inadequate, or average? All of these things can serve as stumbling blocks to our progress in life. Every excuse is setting us back farther from fulfilling our purpose. Fear is setting us back farther from fulfilling our purpose. Anxiety is setting us back from further fulfilling our purpose. Doubt is setting us back farther from fulfilling our purpose. These things can only be setting us back farther because we allow them to. We have the greater ONE living on the inside of us, and none of these things have power over us.
Do you remember the story of David and Goliath? If not, take some time to read it in First Samuel 17. David may have thought he was not good enough when he saw the other soldiers afraid of Goliath. Those soldiers were trained and equipped for battles like that, and if they were afraid, what made David any better? See, David was not like everybody else. Those soldiers depended on their own strength, and David depended on the power of God. We fail whenever we think we can do things on our own. We always need God on our side to do great things. David did not allow what other people thought of him to limit what God had already placed on the inside of him. Goliath and the other soldiers did not consider David qualified to stand up to such a giant. Goliath was puffed up and was certain little ole David would not have been able to take him out. If we had compared the two of them, we might have doubted David, too. Truly, we must stop looking at what others have or what others are doing and think we are not good enough for ourselves. Comparison kills, and God did not create us to compare ourselves to each other but to complement each other. Everyone’s journey is different, and we need to stop making ourselves feel less than others because we appear to not be as ahead. David could have backed down when he saw how gigantic Goliath was, but he knew he was created for more. He knew there was a greater purpose than just bringing lunch to his brothers. Why are we shrinking ourselves when we know God has created us for more? Something rose up in David where he stood in his God-given authority to slay Goliath. We, too, must rise up and stand to do greater things for God.
In that story, Saul attempts to make David wear his armor when he goes up against Goliath. God did not create us to be a copycat of somebody else’s anointing. God has uniquely created us for a purpose. We do not have to look like, sound like, or be like anybody else to accomplish God’s assignment for our lives. We can be ourselves and still be effective. Others may try to put us in places we know we were not made for, and we must never accept that. David would not have been successful had he tried to be like Saul. Saul had his own armor and was still afraid. Saul had his own armor and was still powerless to stand against Goliath. How would that have helped David? We must realize that Saul was not only putting his armor on David but also putting his own fears and doubts on him. We must be confident in who God has called and created us to be. People never control God’s destiny, and we must never allow people to think that for one moment. Saul was content with Goliath’s mess, but David knew he had the victory because of the God he served. We need more Davids in this last day hour who can be bold and courageous in the face of a backslidden culture. We need more Davids who can stand against popular opinion and preach the truth of God to a lost and dying world.
Now is the time for us to rise in power and authority to be EVERYTHING God has called us to be. Holding back on purpose is costly. How many persons are still broken because we have not written that book? How many people are still hopeless because we have not written that song? How many people are still depressed because we have not recorded that video? How many persons are still in despair because we have not designed that graphic? God calls us out of our comfort zones to confront the giants facing our families, friends, cities, nations, and world. There are too many giants roaming free that should already be defeated, but we are allowing unnecessary, meaningless things to hold us hostage.
Today is the day to BREAK FREE! Break free from people’s opinions. Break free from fear. Break free from your present circumstances. Break free from anxiety. Break free from doubt. Break free from comparison. Break free from comfort. You were CREATED FOR MORE. There is more to you than what you have already seen or done. There is more to you than what you have previously accomplished. Do not settle because of the last victory. Do not settle because of the last success. The people of God never remain stagnant. We go from strength to strength and from glory to glory. If ever a time we needed the people of God to intensify their mission for God, it is right now. No longer can we be satisfied. There is still great work to do for God!
Raphael R. Roker 