Benaiah, a valiant warrior did many heroic deeds. He chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it. 2 Samuel 23:20-21
In my mind chasing a lion stacks up right next to snake charming and swimming with crocodiles. None of those are on my vacation adventure list. The thought of chasing a lion causes me to tilt my head and scratch it.
In his book In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day Mark Batterson unpacks a great perspective on being bold and taking advantage of the opportunities in front of us.
Batterson writes, “There is an ancient custom of sending servants ahead of a king to secure safe passage. But God turns the tables. The King of kings goes in advance of His servants and prepares the road ahead of us. Now here’s the catch: sometimes His itinerary entails coming face to face with a lion in a pit on a snowy day.
But when you find yourself in those challenging circumstances, you need to know that God is ordering your footsteps. You can have a sense of destiny because you know that God has considered every contingency in your life, and He always has your best interest at heart. And that sense of destiny, rooted in the sovereignty of God, helps you pray the unthinkable and attempt the impossible.”
What is chasing you that you may need to turn around and chase till you conquer it?
Planning, training, and muscle memory are paramount when reacting to a crisis. May the Lord grant you the grace and strength necessary today to fight the hairy beasts of life.
Blessings,
Wes