John Stanko | On August 17, 2015

King David in Prayer
(Painted by Pieter de Grebber) (1640)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God”

– Psalm 20:7.

David was a warrior king, renowned for his military prowess. Yet he learned not to trust in his own strength, experience or gifting, but rather to trust in the name of the Lord. On once occasion, the Philistines attacked and David asked the Lord what he should do. The Lord replied, “so David inquired of the Lord, ““Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands” (2 Samuel 5:19b). The Philistines would not go away, and David could have assumed he was to attack the same way as before. Instead, he trusted the Lord and asked again. This time the Lord advised,

“Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army”

– 2 Samuel 5:23-24.

Are you relying on your own strength or God’s? Are you seeking the Lord, even though you “know” how to do that for which you are asking guidance?

Today’s reading – Psalms 16-20

John Stanko

John Stanko was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Duquesne University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in 1972 and 1974 respectively.

Since then, John has served as an administrator, teacher, consultant, author, and pastor in his professional career. He holds a second master’s degree in pastoral ministries, and earned his Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh in 2011.

John founded a personal and leadership development company, called PurposeQuest, in 2001 and today travels the world to speak, consult and inspire leaders and people everywhere. From 2001-2008, he spent six months a year in Africa and still enjoys visiting and working on that continent, while teaching for Geneva College’s Masters of Organizational Leadership and the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, John founded Urban Press, a publishing service designed to tell stories of the city, from the city and to the city.