Ready:  

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song.” —Psalm 28:7

Set:  

At the 1996 Olympics, U.S. gymnast Kerri Strug faced a defining moment. After injuring her ankle on her first vault, her team’s gold medal hopes were fading. Could she continue? She drew help from her trusted coach Béla Károlyi. From his strength came her confidence. That confidence carried her down the runway, through the pain, over the vault, and into a perfect landing. Joy lit up her face because her vault gave the U.S. women’s team their first-ever gymnastics Olympic gold medal. 

David knew this pattern well. In Psalm 28:7, trusting God’s strength gave him confidence to face battle. That confidence didn’t just calm his fears—it ignited joy that carried him from the first clash to the final chorus of praise. His victories weren’t rooted in skill alone; they were fueled start to finish by God-inspired joy. On the other side of combat, his joy found its voice in praise. God’s four-step plan for victory is simple: God’s strength builds my confidence. My confidence fuels my joy. My joy powers the victory. The victory belongs to His praise. 

Paul declares, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). God’s help is more than a mid-game timeout—it’s the power source that drives you through every challenge. That joy steadies you under pressure, powers you through pain and lifts your eyes to the One who gives victory. 

Go:  

1. When have you experienced God’s strength giving you the confidence to take action? 

2. How does stepping forward in confidence—rooted in God’s help—create joy even before the “win” happens? 

3. How can you make sure your joy leads to giving God the praise instead of keeping the credit? 

  Workout:

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