What Is God Saying to Us Today?

Daily Office Readings – Saturday, July 18, 2026

Readings: Psalm 20; 1 Samuel 17:31–49; Acts 11:1–18; Mark 1:14–28

The psalmist declares,

“Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed.” (Psalm 20:6)

At first glance, we might think victory means winning every battle or escaping every hardship. But today’s readings invite us to see victory through God’s eyes rather than our own.

David certainly believed this when he stood before Goliath. He was the youngest son, armed with only a sling and five smooth stones. Looking at the giant, David proclaimed, “The battle is the Lord’s.” His confidence was not in his own strength but in God’s faithfulness. David’s victory came because he trusted God more than he feared the giant.

Peter experienced a different kind of victory.

For his entire life he had been taught that Gentiles were unclean. Then God gave him a vision that challenged everything he thought he knew. When Peter entered the home of Cornelius and witnessed the Holy Spirit fall upon that household, he realized God was doing something new. Later, when criticized by other believers for entering the home of uncircumcised people, Peter simply replied,

“Who was I that I could hinder God?”

The victory was not over an enemy. It was over prejudice, fear, and old assumptions that kept people separated from God’s grace.

Mark’s Gospel reveals another kind of victory. As Jesus taught in the synagogue, people were astonished because He taught with authority. When He commanded an unclean spirit to come out of a man, the crowd asked,

“What is this? A new teaching—with authority!”

Jesus confronted the powers of evil and brought freedom where there had been bondage.

As I reflect on these readings, I realize how much my understanding of victory has changed over the years.

There was a time when I believed that bad things were signs of God’s displeasure or judgment. I no longer see life that way. Bad things happen to good people. David faced a giant. Peter was asked to question long-held beliefs. Jesus confronted evil wherever He went.

We all encounter moments that challenge our faith.

One of those moments for me was the stillbirth of our first child, Amanda Joy. That loss shook me in ways I never imagined. I searched for answers that never fully came. Looking back now, I do not see a God who caused that tragedy. Instead, I see a God who walked beside us through our grief, surrounded us with love, and slowly brought healing to wounded hearts.

That was God’s victory.

Not the absence of pain, but His faithful presence within it.

Perhaps that is what today’s readings are teaching us. God’s victories do not always look the way we expect. Sometimes He defeats giants. Sometimes He changes our hearts. Sometimes He frees us from fear. And sometimes He simply refuses to leave us alone in our deepest sorrow.

The victory belongs to the Lord because His love is stronger than fear, stronger than evil, and even stronger than death.

Prayer

Faithful God, when I face giants that seem impossible, remind me that the battle belongs to You. When You challenge my assumptions, give me the courage to follow wherever Your Spirit leads. When I walk through grief or uncertainty, help me trust that Your presence is enough. Thank You for the victories You bring, even when they do not look the way I expected. Amen.