Hi and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled Living by Faith was written by Anne Cetus.

Gary was experiencing some balance issues while walking, so his doctor ordered physical

therapy to improve his balance. During one session, his therapist told him, you're trusting

too much in what you can see, even when it's wrong. You're not depending enough on your

other systems, what you feel under your feet and your inner ear signals, which are also meant to help keep you balanced.

You are trusting too much in what you can see, brings to mind the story of David, a young shepherd, and his encounter with Goliath.

For forty days, Goliath, a Philistine champion, strutted in front of the Israelite army, taunting them to send

someone out to fight him. But what the people focused on naturally caused them fear. Then young

David showed up because his father asked him to take supplies to his older brothers. How did David

look at the situation?

By faith in God, not by sight.

He saw the giant, but trusted that God would rescue his people.

Even though he was just a boy, he told King Saul,

don't worry about this, Philistine. I'll go fight him.

Then he told Goliath,

The battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands.

And that's just what God did.

Trusting in God's character and power can help us to live more closely by faith, rather than by sight.

Today's Our Daily Red Devotional Scripture reading is from 1 Samuel, Chapter 17, beginning with verse 32, and then verses 40 through 47.

David said to Saul, Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag, and, with his sling in his hand, approach the Philistine.

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