Preparation is Good, But Victory Belongs to God – (Proverbs 21:31)

Daily Bible Study
At first glance, this proverb may seem a bit confusing, or it can seem out of place with the rest of the Bible. However, when taking a second closer look at this passage a spiritual truth of God becomes evident to the reader. That is, God is sovereign and it's the Lord, who brings the victory not us. Neither our cunning wits nor our special talents will ultimately guarantee victory. In other words, human effort, human wisdom and ingenuity have its limitations. And regardless of our technology or ability to battle, it's the Lord, who ultimately brings victory in any war, spiritual or otherwise. While a soldier can and should do his all to prepare for battle, in the end no amount of preparation can override God's power and sovereignty. What matters most is our heart for the Lord and where we stand in our relationship with God through Christ!

Dear child of God, nothing else matters. What good is it to be the best soldier in the battle, only to die a hero and spend eternity in Hell? Therefore, what matters most is where we stand in Christ, everything else is secondary. This also means, as followers of Christ, we are to give our all in preparation for the Lord's service. It's truly of utmost importance that we study and remember God's word. This is needed so when the Lord directs us in battle, we are properly wearing and using the armor, which He has so graciously prepared for us. And it's God and His armor, which protects us and gives us victory. And it's His direction alone, which leads us into battle. We battle in order to saves souls for the glory of God the Father, through Christ Jesus our Lord. And that's the message of this passage. We use our abilities and talents God gave us to prepare, but we do so knowing that it's the Lord who gave us those abilities and the Lord who directs us in battle and gives us victory.