Note from Joanna: This week our guest post is by my friend and assistant Angela Howard; you can connect with her at the bottom of the post. I know many of you are reading THRU THE WORD so we thought we would give you an example of conversations on Facebook. If you haven’t had a chance to participate in the dialogue I encourage you to do so. It’s so inspiring to see what everyone is learning!
What Makes a Person Mighty?
This week in our reading THRU THE WORD we landed in 1 Chronicles 11 where David becomes King of Israel. This is also where we find out about David’s “mighty men.” These warriors had some unique qualities which set them apart from the other men who were under King David’s command. This chapter seemed to jump off the page for many of us reading this week; including Joanna:
Joanna Weaver: Been thinking about David’s Mighty Men—thirty in number, with individual talents and strengths. Makes me think about how God wants to use us individually, but that when we come together around the Lord, our individual strengths become an amazing force!
Rebecca A Keefe: I was so impressed with the strength of the Mighty men…how fit they were and equipped for battle—hand to hand…He had a faithful, strong and mighty following. Men who were disciplined for battle. Their strength wasn’t just in numbers but in individual strength.
You and I may never face the physical challenges that these men faced, but we can definitely learn from these warriors.
4 Characteristics of a Mighty Person
Purposeful: “They decided to make David their king…” (1 Chronicles 11:10 NLT) In the Hebrew the word chazaq is used, which means: to strengthen, be courageous, be resolute. These men were determined and unwavering in their commitment to do the work of God. If we want to be mighty we must decide to live a life that lines up with God’s purposes.
Dependent upon God: “So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.” (1 Chronicles 11:14 NLT) Regardless of our strength, training and talents, we must depend upon God to give us what we need to face the battles in our lives.
Willing to Serve—Even at Great Risk: “So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David.” (1 Chronicles 11:18 NLT) When serving God we often find ourselves vulnerable, risking our hearts—even at times our very lives. Are you willing to lay your life down for your King?
Full of Strength: Throughout 1 Chronicles 11 we find stories of David’s mighty men and their incredible strength. This strength was not exclusively physical, but a strength of soul and spirit as well. We, too, can be mighty when we attend to our physical, spiritual and relational needs. This enables us to stand strong when we face the inevitable conflicts in our fallen world.
As followers of Christ, why is it important that we be mighty men and women? What characteristic above do you need the most to face your current battle?
Angela is an inspirational speaker and writer who teaches the hard truths of God’s Word in a fun and relevant way. She is also a writing assistant to Joanna Weaver, author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Whatever she is doing, she has a passion to see spiritual growth and an increased sense of purpose in people’s lives. Angela and her husband Michael graduated from Northwest University in 1997 and have been married for 18 years and have 2 children. They currently live in Washington State.
You can follow her on her blog at No Ordinary Days, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.