“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty . . . This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands . . . and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)
If you want to be a person of great faith, with a great dream and a great life’s work, do the very things that David did to defeat the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt.
Remember how God has helped you in the past.
David said in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (NLT).
When you remember the ways that God has helped you in the past, it gives you confidence for the future.
Use the tools that God has given you now.
David used the tools that God provided that utilized his strengths: “Then Saul gave David his own armor . . . ‘I can’t go in these,’ he protested to Saul. ‘I’m not used to them.’ So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag” (1 Samuel 17:38-40 NLT).
Don’t wait for something you don’t have—money, education, or connections. Use the tools God has already given you to face your giants with confidence.
Ignore the dream busters.
Later in life, when others were speaking against him, David had to encourage himself in the Lord: “David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6 TLB).
When you encourage yourself in the Lord, it’s not just a positive mental attitude. There is a bedrock trust in God’s grace, provision, security, and power.
Expect God to help you for his glory.
David stormed the battlefield, shouting, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty. . . . This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 NIV).
I made this decision when I was a young man. One night, I got down on my knees and said, “God, I’m not the smartest guy, the best educated, or the most talented. But I’m going to trust you. And I will do anything, anytime, anywhere in faith, even when it doesn’t make sense to me.” And what an adventure my life has been!
God will use anybody who will trust him and expect to be used by him—not because of who you are but because it brings him glory.
What “giants” are standing between you and your dream?
Think of the tools that God has given you to accomplish your task. How well are you using them?
How do you want to be used by God? Do you expect him to do it?
Do you want the direction and protection that comes from being in a relationship with Jesus Christ?
You don't need to know what's going to happen tomorrow. You don't need to know what the future holds; you just need to know who holds the future! When you have a relationship with your Creator, you'll have the security of his unwavering love and unbreakable promises.
If you want to begin an intimate, forever relationship with Jesus, pray:
“Dear God, I want my security to be in something that cannot be taken from me. I want my security to be in my relationship with you, as I trust in your promise to never leave me. I want to claim that promise today.
“As much as I know how, I open my life to you, Jesus Christ. I confess that I have lived life my own way and sinned against you. Please forgive me, come into my life, change my priorities, my values, my purpose, and my direction. Transform me into the person you want me to be as I submit my life to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com.
