Big Talk

1 Kings 20:11, And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”

There is an obvious difference in saying you are something and actually being that thing. We can talk big about how strong, humble, or faithful we are but how do we fare in the battle? The battle ground, not the parade ground, is the proving ground. Strength in marriage is not proven in the good days but through the trials. Our love is not demonstrated clearly when we are loved but when we are hated.

1 Thessalonians 3:12&13, "and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

Lord, establish my heart in holiness. I pray for my church that You would establish all our hearts as blameless in holiness before You. When the greatest test and strongest gaze of perfection falls upon us make us stand firm on Christ. Do not let us who are strapping on the armor boast as he who takes it off. Give us all that we need to be faithful and fruitful. Guard our consciences from pulling up short of faithfulness like Ahab did. Make our report like the report of the Thessalonians, "standing fast in the Lord."

In Jesus' Name
Amen