Psalm 144:1-2
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

David was a great leader because He was led by God.  He was a mighty man because He relied on God’s strength.  He was wise because He looked to God as the source of his wisdom.  God taught David how to fight, but David didn’t rely on that knowledge to win his battles.  No matter how powerful he became, he never stopped needing God.  No matter how much he grew or how much he learned, he didn’t trust in what he had within himself, but was always looking to God to fulfill those roles in his life.  And as a result, David had a very personal relationship with God and could apply these characteristics of God in a very personal way in his own life.

May we, too, continue to rely on God and trust Him all the days of our lives and trust Him in everything.  He will be so much to us as we submit to Him—our fortress and high tower, our deliverer, our shield.  And no matter what we face, we can trust Him.  No matter the enemy or the scope of the battle, we can face it in His strength with His power behind us and Him supplying the wisdom we’ll need.  If we’re willing to need Him for everything and can humbly surrender, He’ll give us exactly what we need.

We realize so profoundly the truth of this at those times we disobey or seek to go our own way or try to do something in our own strength.  When we’re flat on our face or failing miserably or facing some unwelcome consequence, we understand deeply that we must rely solely on God, we must obey Him, we must follow Him and seek His will.  David learned the hard way.  He messed up.  He made poor choices.  But he owned up to them, and then he learned from them, and as a result, he could grow ever closer to his God.

Are we truly relying on God for everything, and are we taking the lessons He teaches us to heart?  Do we recognize that we are truly nothing without Him and how much we need Him in our lives?  Have we found our strength only in Him?  Are we trusting His wisdom and not our own?  Are we depending on Him for everything and exalting Him for all that He supplies?  Our position in life is dictated by God’s will for us.  And a humble leader like David is the best kind because then God is sure to get all the glory.  So let’s make sure we fulfill our particular purpose only through His enabling power.