The last time I read the account of David’s victory over Goliath, I thought about how the Lord prepared this shepherd boy for the day of battle well before it arrived. In First Samuel 17, we find David trying to convince King Saul to allow him to fight the giant, and it is here that David reveals exactly how God has prepared him for his divine assignment. "David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear....’" (1 Samuel 17:34-36 NIV) I have read this passage many times, but this time the Lord used it to remind me of how He prepares you and me for the divine assignments He has in mind for us.

When my oldest son, Joseph, was a Junior in high school, the Lord led him to start a Bible Club that met once a week after school. By helping my son to prepare his teaching lessons each week, I learned how to study the Scriptures, take notes, and write messages based on God’s Word and biblical principles. As the "Club Mom," I offered to drive home every student who wanted to attend the meetings, but didn’t have a ride home. While driving these teens around each week, they often shared with me their deepest concerns, fears, and hopes, and I did my best to advise, comfort, and encourage them with godly wisdom and insight from the Word of God. All of these skills have proven to be very valuable to me in my ministry today. After Joseph graduated from high school, my younger son, John, took over the leadership of the club, and I had several more years of preparation for my future assignments from the Lord. I taught Vacation Bible School for five years, and as I taught the Word of God to young children, I learned the value of keeping my teaching simple, understandable, and practical, so that people of all ages could relate to it.

The Bible says: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV) When people ask me how they can have a ministry of their own, I tell them to get to know God and His Word. It is the Word of God, along with the Spirit of God, that teaches us, trains us, and makes us "thoroughly equipped" for every task the Lord assigns. Just as the Lord did not call David to face Goliath without preparing him in advance, He will not call us to a major task or position without equipping us with the skills we need to succeed. Some of those circumstances that you are in right now are being used by God to prepare you for promotion. As Scripture admonishes, "Don’t despise the day of small beginnings." (Zechariah 4:10) Instead, perform your present duties with a godly attitude, and begin giving God thanks for equipping you for the greater things He has in store!

Prayer: Lord, open my spiritual eyes so that I may see my current circumstances and assignments from Your perspective. Forgive me when I grumble or complain about where I am right now. Help me to understand that all You give me to do has value and meaning in Your sight. Thank You for preparing me for my divine destiny and purpose!