Personal Trainer

Psalm 144:1–2 (ESV) Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

I've always liked the opening words of this Psalm. David worships God for the fact that He has trained his hands to fight skillfully. Make no mistake, David did not "luckily" win out over his enemies (particularly Goliath). He wasn't a one hit wonder who struck it big at just the right moment. He was always victorious. More importantly, David knew where that victory came from. God had trained his hands and fingers. 

I like this passage because it reminds me that our prayers to God are not supposed to simply be desperate pleas cast to heaven like a Hail Mary pass in the 4th quarter when we are down by 7. Sometimes that is the case, but most times God is in the training business. 

Jesus TRAINED disciples:
Matthew 4:19 (ESV) “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Paul TRAINED disciples:
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV) Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Paul TRAINED leaders:
Acts 20:20 (ESV) I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,

There is something to be said about a season of TRAINING. Many Christians want victory in the immediate, but not training in the intermittent. Yet God is a God who TRAINS and grows and develops His people. 

Consider that even Jesus GREW and was TRAINED:
Luke 2:52 (ESV) Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

I spent a portion of my public ministry with far less training than I have now. I'm so very happy the Spirit of God led me to deeper training for preaching and teaching. I cannot tell you the benefits of the classes and learning that have developed me in the interpretation of God's Word.

But notice what else David prays for in this Psalm:
Psalm 144:7–8 (ESV) Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

David is ALSO in the MIDST of the battle. He's facing his enemies. He is ACTIVE in war right now!

He's letting God train Him and fighting at the same time. That's a good way to do it if you ask me.

Seminary gets a bad wrap sometimes. I believe it's because it's too much training and not enough warring. We need both. We need to learn and immediately use what we've learned. If I could give one piece of advice to people looking for schooling in any field it would be this: BE ACTIVE in whatever field you are LEARNING and watch the Lord bless it.