“And I must place no confidence in my own works but only in God. Trusting in my own mental understanding becomes a hindrance to complete trust in God.”
Oswald Chambers
We all come against giants in our life. In fact, as Joyce Meyer says, “Maybe you don’t just have one Goliath. Maybe you have his whole family!” The Old Testament story of David, a young shepherd boy fighting against Goliath, a 9’9″ champion and man of war, provides clues how to fight our own Goliaths.
I’m presently fighting the Goliath of becoming a non-profit ministry. Filling out the 501(c)3 government form is daunting. My typical response to the giants in my life is to avoid them, to run in the opposite direction, or to procrastinate facing them. I’m so grateful King David was not like me.
David was incensed at the giant’s propensity to defy Israel. He didn’t look at the size of the giant but focused on the size of his God. David’s past experience with God’s deliverance from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, gave him confidence that God would deliver him from the hand of the Philistine. (I Samuel 17:37) David knew better than to place his confidence in himself. His faith was in God alone and in His character and abilities. Having hope for our future requires looking back on our past and seeing how God came through for us.
The shepherd boy did not use the typical warfare weapons. The armor Goliath wore and the tip of his spear weighed 140 pounds. David turned down King Saul’s offer for protective armor and took his staff, five smooth stones and a sling. David went against Goliath in the name of the Lord Almighty. II Corinthians 10:4 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Fight your fears with prayer and God’s Word.
David doesn’t run away from Goliath, rather in I Samuel 17:48, it says he “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him (Goliath).” I’m impressed David didn’t hesitate to hit a confrontation head on. He didn’t run in the opposite direction away from his enemy; he ran toward his opposition. David didn’t shirk his God-given assignment but acted quickly to embrace it. He knew God had this one so he could run quickly into battle.
What are your present day Goliaths? What battle are you tempted to run away from? What do you fear? Run towards it. Run toward the battle with the name of the Lord as your weapon. Whatever is too hard for you to conquer alone, take up God and fight with Him.
I Samuel 17:46-47 explains why God puts Goliaths in our lives. God wants the whole world to know there is a God in Israel. He wants to flex His muscles and show us how strong He is. When you’re facing your fears head on, when you’re in a battle ready to fight, remember the battle is the Lord’s.
My present day battle assignment is having Restoring Hearts become a non-profit ministry. Even though I may not have what it takes to win this battle, God does. The battle of the non-profit is the Lord’s and He will give it into my hands as I arm myself with His name. With that confidence in mind, do I sit still and not act? No, I run quickly to the battle line to meet my Goliath. I embrace God’s assignment and make it a priority. Ready or not, Goliath, here we come!
“Have plenty of courage. God is stronger than the Devil. We are on the winning side.”
John Wilbur Chapman
Relevant Reflections:
1. What Goliath are you currently facing?
2. How has God fought the giants in your past? Be encouraged.
3. What weapons does God want you to use to win the battle?