It wasn’t working and my frustration was mounting.

I was a relatively young Christian in my faith journey and a fellow believer had shared with me about how they had prayed and God had answered.

Excitedly, I probed them with all sorts of questions concerning their prayer time so I could duplicate the process in hopes of getting some answers myself. 

Then, I scurried off to pray.

But, it wasn’t working.  The only thing I took away from my “time with God” was discouragement and perplexity.

It took me months before I realized I was trying to wear another person’s armor.

And I wasn’t the first.

I Samuel 17 shares a story with us about David going into battle against the giant Goliath.  As this young, teenage, shepherd boy was gearing up to head onto the battlefield in a solo match against this killing machine, Israel’s King Saul offered David his personal armor.

After putting the pieces on and walking around in them, David announced, “I can’t walk in these.  I’m not used to them.” (vs. 39)

David took them off.  “Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them…in his shepherd’s bag.” (vs. 40)

David defeated Goliath that day, ushering in a huge victory for Israel.  But, David did it in a way that “fit” him.  He wore his shepherd’s clothing and used his sling and his stones.

You see, he was a shepherd boy, not a military man.  Slings and stones were the weapons he was familiar with as he used them regularly to keep his flocks safe against predators.  The heavy, military armor was unfamiliar, awkward, and cumbersome to him.

My personal “a-ha!” moment came as I applied this story to my prayer life and spiritual walk.  Copying someone else’s prayer style, habits, and ways had been mechanical to me and burdensome because it didn’t fit me.

God wasn’t as concerned about where I prayed, how I prayed, and what I was wearing when I prayed as much as He was about my heart.  Was I being authentic? Genuine? Transparent and real?  Was I being true to myself – to come to Him in ways that fit how He made me?

I’m a chatterbox and pray best when I can move.  It helps me think, be expressive, and connect with God deeply.  For others, sitting still or walking a nature trail works best.

Whatever the case may be, we each have a unique way that reflects how we best connect with God as we step onto our spiritual battlefields daily.

Admiring someone else’s prayer life, spiritual walk, or gifts and talents is one thing; trying to outwardly duplicate their actions will only tend to cause agonizing disappointment.

Want to take down those giants standing in your path today? Longing for some answered prayer in your life? Wear your own armor and God will do the rest.

Until next time, Grace and Glory!