Rise the David in you, because goliath must fall

One day at a time...

1 samuel 17 talks us through the account of David, not when he was king but when he was still a young shepherd boy. We read that not even death itself stopped David believing God would give them victory over this philistine giant. Though it wouldn't of taken much to kill young David, as everything about this philistine giant was huge, his shield, his armor, his being and his sword. None of it phased young David, as he knew that with God nothing was limited. God was the God of the impossible. As we read through the bible, we see Time after time of God waiting for faith to arise in his people. Waiting for them to believe and trust in his capabilities. Even to this day we can forget what God can do when we face our giants. Granted our giants aren't an angry 9 foot tall philistine. But giants come in many forms, shapes and sizes. For example, fear, anxiety, depression, a job interview, financial problem, oppressors plotting against you. Sometimes giants can come in small sizes like temptation, maybe you want to avoid eating chocolate, or keep from looking at porn, either way, when compared to other things it maybe small but to us at the time, it's a mountain. It's our philistine giant.

The bible isn't just some book from the stone age, where it is totally irrelevant to today's world. It most certainly Is relevant, and has so many treasures that can help us, build us up, keep us focused on the one which defeated the biggest giant, death. That one is jesus christ. Someone once said to me, I have tried the whole being a Christian thing and it wasn't for me, my life got worse. My first response was blunt. I responded "and". Not very compassionate hey, but I did go on to talk about how as soon as we become a threat too the devil, he is on our trail like a lion stalking its prey. Jesus never promised a trouble free life, he said we would face many trials, but he would never leave us nor forsake us.

• John 16:33 New International Version (NIV) 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  

• Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed

• James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

My giant and yours.
Throughout life I have faced many enemy giants trying to bring we down, trying to stop me becoming who God has made me to be. Although the one God brings to my attention to talk to you about is ironically about words. One of the biggest challenges I have faced throughout my youth, was with words. I was always told I never made sense, I missed words out, I put extra words or letters in. Apparently I was all over the place. So God asking me to start writing blogs was terrifying. I didn't want to be humiliated worldwide. But the bible says in our weaknesses God is made strong.
2 Corinthians 12 verse 9: Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Anyway back to the point, it hit me hard in college, when the teachers feedback on one of my assignments literally and I quote said, you don't make sense. As I read those horrifying words, I broke down in tears. I was put to do a dyslexic test, but I didn't pass, so I wasn't dyslexic. So the frustration still lingered. I cried out to God. Saying surely this isn't who I am, sure you've not designed me to only achieve a grade F in all my work. God what am I supposed to do with this. You know what God did, well he reminded me of a section of the film facing giants. If you haven't seen it I reccomend you watch it, such a powerful film. Anyway, this particular clip in the film. The coach of the American football team is fed up of never winning, he is fed up or the defeated attitude of his team. Especially now because one of the team members who scored a lot of points for them, has moved schools. Therefore leaving the team. One particular student throws his helmet on the floor quoting that they are not going to win anything now. So instead of taking this defeated attitude with a pinch of salt and moving on, the coach calls forward this particular student and one others. He asks the groaning student to do what they called the death crawl. He naturally scoffs and says I can do it to the 30 line,

 yet the coach says "i think you can go all the way, which is the end zone. And asks the student to do his very best, but the twisted plot is that he has to do it with the second student on his back, while he's on his hands and feet, not allowing his knees to touch the grown. Oh and the cherry of the cake is he had to do it blind folded. Naturally he thinks that's impossible, but the coach just asks him to give it his very best. So the student goes ahead and gets on with it. After so far he wants to stop because it starts to hurt. But the coach is encouraging him and shouting to carry on, telling him to negotiate with his body to find more strength. Eventually the young lad hits the end of his ability to move any further. That's when the coach tells him to look up your in the end zone. The rest of the team are speechless, because he's just carry 160pound lad on his back while crawling from one end of the field to the other. The whole point to this exercise was that he was the most influential person on the team, if he acted defeated so did the rest. So the coach was trying to get through to him to do his very best and leave the results up to God.

After God had reminded me of this I knew he was telling me to do my best and leave the results up to him. So I did, and I watched his work unfold in front of my eyes. My work jumped from grade F to grade As and Bs. I was able to finish that course with the defeat of my giant and the joy of the lord, and not the other way around. So just like David, I didn't know exactly how things were going to happen, I just knew that I had to trust in God and do my best. He would sort out the outcome.

Whatever it is you are facing. It may change over night, it may take weeks, months and sometimes years. But do not lose hope. Because when the God of the impossible in on your side, no giant can defeat you. Trust God. Be blessed.

Let's pray

Father every day we face something or other that likes to distract us from our place in your kingdom. Almighty God we stand defeated without you, but victorious with you. God we ask for you guidance in what to do in our next step towards conquering the very giant that stands to intimidate us. Lord like David we don't stand a chance unless you are with us, we put our trust in you and your will. Knowing that your word says, your will is for us to prosper, and when we face trials you won't forsake us. Thank you for your love, your mercy, your grace and patience towards us. We may be stubborn but you never give up on us. Give us the wisdom to know when to remain silence, when to fight and when to pray. In jesus name amen.