Read Psalm 18
Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist, was once scheduled to perform at a great American concert hall. In the audience was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting, the boy slipped away from her side. Without much notice from the audience, he sat down at the piano of the great Paderewski and began playing "chopsticks." The roar of the crowd turned to shouts as hundreds yelled, "Get that boy away from there!" When Paderewski heard the uproar backstage, he grabbed his coat and rushed over behind the boy. Reaching around him from behind, the master began to improvise a countermelody to "Chopsticks." As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy's ear, "Keep going. Don't quit, son...don't stop...don't stop."
What a great picture of our relationship with God. He is the loving Father who takes whatever we have to offer and makes beautiful music out of it. He provides the power to do incredible things in our lives. Psalm 18 is a song of victory that David wrote after God made him king and gave him victory over the nations that opposed him. When you read this psalm, it becomes clear that David understood that anything accomplished in his life was the result of God. And he made sure God got the glory for it. I love how David put it in v. 29: "For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall." With God's help nothing or no one, could stop David from victory. Because of Jesus' defeat of death we have victorious power. Or as Paul put it, "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
David discovered this victorious power but he never took credit for it or put the spotlight on himself. He always gave God the glory and praise He, and only He, deserved. Look at how he ends the psalm in vs. 49-50: "For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever." Will you step out by faith and trust in God's power to bring victory in your life? And will you give Him all the glory when He does?
What do you need victory over? How will you step out by faith and trust God?
What are some ways you can give God glory and praise this week?
Prayer for the day: "Mighty God and King, thank you for the power you have shown in my life. God, help me step out by faith today and trust you for spiritual victory. I praise you for your might and glory. May my life be lived as the conqueror child of the King. Amen."