Saul's Armor

This week I was reading to my little boy his all time favorite Bible story & something jumped out at me like never before. 

You have probably heard of David & Goliath, right. Well David comes to bring some lunch to his brothers & hears this 9 foot man taunting God's army & he (the shepherd boy) decides he will take that giant down. So King Saul says to David in 1 Samuel 17:

³⁸ Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. ³⁹ David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. ⁴⁰ He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

We all know the end of the story. David defeated Goliath with one stone!
What I love about David is that he knew that Saul's armor wasn't for him.  He knew exactly who he was & what has brought him victory in the past.

So many of us try to wear 'Saul's Armor'.  We see someone else operating in their gifting & we desire the same gift. 
Or we compare ourselves ...
Or we become jealous...
Or we try as hard as my can to 'fit in' that armor.  It's exhausting!  I've tried it ALL!

Maybe it's those Skinny Jeans for you?
Or a number on the scale?
Or a position of honor & success?

What ever your 'armor' is, it's place of bondage. it's a place of striving. it's NOT what the LORD has JUST for y.o.u.

I believe the reason David did not have a problem saying no the Saul's Armor is because he knew who he was ...& whose he was. 

David was the last to get the e-vite to his own anointing party when he was 12 b/c he didn't LOOK the part.  But Samuel was instructed by God to look at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) David was the one that God had chosen. He set him apart. He was as it says in Acts 'a man after God's own heart'. (Acts 13:22)

Also, David had beaten a lion & bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37), so he wasn't afraid of this big man.
I believe when we know & believe who we are in Christ we will never want to be anyone other than who HE created us to be!

So let me challenge you... Take off that armor that wasn't meant for you. And pick up your staff & sling & slay your giant with ease.


BeLoved.

Leaving Behind

Brothers, {& Sisters} I do not consider that I have 'made it' on my own. But one thing I do: 'forgetting what lies behind' & straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Yesterday I taught my last Holy Yoga class of 2013. We talked about what we were leaving behind in 2013. We didn't talk about weight or our size b/c in this Holy space we desire to get rid of the 'things' that really weigh us down. Things like shame... guilt... fear... rejection... 

In order to 'press on toward our goal' for 2014 I think we need to leave some things behind. 

For me a big one is fear of falling/failing. I'm going to learn to fall forward & not hold myself in bondage to even try because it's not perfect, yet. I went to an inversion workshop & realized I wasn't letting myself reach my potential b/c of my fear of falling. And also not being able to control my fall. My Mom use to call me Grace b/c I had issues w/the ground & my feet! :) and even off my mat I'm not writing my Blog b/c I look at others (be mistake) & I compare. So I willing don't write b/c it's not 'perfect'. So I am saying goodbye to the fear of falling & failing & I will be in process of learning how to fall FORWARD to press on toward my goal. 

Another BIG thing, that I have had great  victory in in the past but I have seen rise up in other areas is the fear of rejection. So I turn into this 'pleaser of man' so that 'they' will like me. So I will be leaving the people pleaser behind in 2013. And the only way I am made able to do so is because I am Accepted as the Beloved. Eph 1:6.(That's enough for me!)

In verse 12 Paul says, 'Not that I have already obtained 'this' or am 'perfect', BUT I press on to make it my own, b/c Christ Jesus has made ME HIS won.

So, My sister, what do you want to leave behind in 2013?