Wear Your Own Armor

So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. (I Samuel 17:38-39, NKJV)

When Saul consented to allowing David to fight Goliath, he thought it would be best if David would fight him with his armor and in his way. If all it took was armor and a battle plan, his men would have already defeated Goliath. But, like so many of us, Saul was caught up in his own issues and could not take a step back and think things through.

David arrived on the battlefield fresh and not as weary and could see the situation well. Perhaps too well. David’s faith in God and favor from God made others around him uncomfortable. His brothers harassed and mocked him, and soon after God delivered Goliath into David’s hand, Saul hunted him down and tried to kill him.

However, on that day on that battlefield, David knew that he could not fight wearing someone else’s armor. It was too big, too bulky, too hard to maneuver in. David knew what the Lord had equipped Him with, and he knew how to use it.

We often want to compare our spiritual gifts and our calling with the spiritual gifts and callings of others. That’s human nature. But God has called us to a higher place to put on His nature. The Scripture says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Don’t be jealous or envious of someone else in the kingdom of God. There is no room or time for such feelings. We cannot waste our gifts, callings, and energy wishing God had given us different weapons and armor. Someone else’s armor will not fit you, and someone else’s weapon will feel odd fastened to it. God has equipped YOU for what He has called YOU to do. Be who He made you to be, and He will do the rest. He will deliver Goliaths into your hand when you find your talents and use them for His glory!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me not to feel envy or strife when someone else’s gifts and callings seem to be different or better than mine from my perspective. Help me to see from Your perspective and know that my talents are exactly what You want for me. Help me see the value in everything I do for You. Help me to go into every battle as David did, loudly proclaiming victory in the name of the Lord!