He was intimidating. A well-known warrior, he held his weaponry with expertise and called out his challenge: “Choose your man! Bring me the fight!”
Young David wasn’t supposed to be there, on the other side of the battle lines. The book of 1 Samuel tells us he was a mere delivery boy.
But hearing Goliath’s challenge stirred him. David volunteered to go against the giant and tried putting on Saul’s armor. It felt awkward and unfamiliar. It wasn’t him. He discarded it in a heap and walked toward the stream where he found five smooth stones. With his sling in his hand and the stones tucked into his pocket, he approached Goliath.
We know what happened next: David’s simple skill leveled the giant with unexpected force.
That sense of the impossible as David faced the giant is a familiar experience for me. God has called me to proclaim His mighty name in a country where He is not known. I am confronted with how big the enemy is, and how small and inadequate I am. I look around and wish I were bigger, stronger, braver. I wish I were more gifted and skilled for the fight. If only I had this person’s personality, or that person’s experience… If only I could wear the armor and wield the sword… That is the equipment I need, right?
But that is not me.
I remember who I am, who God made me to be. My true self is the one He has called to stand in this place. If I am more skilled with a sling than a sword, so be it. I will be who I am. I will use what I know. I will live out my own experience, giftings, and passions. Anything else is not me. I can’t wear someone else’s armor or carry another’s tools.
So I look at what He has given me: my sling is my motorbike, and my stone is my worship.
I live five minutes away from a town called Gem City. This city is the birthplace of a highly revered Muslim scholar, and people travel from as far away as twenty hours by bus to pray at his tomb. The people of Gem City are known—and expected—to be very pious. They are also are bound by fear, pride, and self-righteousness.
On Palm Sunday, I got on my motorbike and went on a prayer-ride, declaring Hosanna! and welcoming—in faith—the Messiah’s certain arrival in Gem City.
There is power in praying onsite, in the very places where we expect our prayers to be answered. Some people call this prayer walking; I call it “praying onsite with insight”.
Students in America do this when they gather for prayer around the flagpole at their school. Concerned citizens do this at key government buildings as they pray for local, state, and federal leadership.
Does it really matter where you pray?
Yes, and no. We can pray anywhere.
But Paul tells us our battle is “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). So when we worship and declare His Kingdom come in a certain place, the unseen realm takes notice. Angels rejoice, and demons must flee at the name of Jesus.
As I go on my prayer-rides through Gem City, I lift up God’s name, sing worship, and ask Him to bring freedom from fear. I can picture God’s servants drawing near and evil scattering as I take up my sling and my stone on behalf of Gem City.
What about you? Who has God made you to be, and what are the sling and the stones He has given you?
Remember who you are. Because wielding anything other than the tools God has given you—is not you.
**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names and places have been changed for security.**
Original article: www.frontiersusa.org/blog/article/take-up-your-sling
