Face Your Giants!

It all began on a battlefield, and it all ends on a battlefield. Let me explain, we have all heard the story of David and Goliath. We have this scrawny little shepherd boy who wants to slay the giant Goliath. In the other corner stands Goliath, he is of Andre the Giant size, if you will. He towers over every little human being that stands before him. Goliath wears a scowl that would send any army running for the hills, and delievers challenges that no man can seem to face. Yet, this one little boy steps up to the plate and today David becomes a man. Who would have ever thought that David, of all people, would want to face this giant? What experience does he have slaying giants and being a giant killer? After all, he sents in fields every day playing his harp, watching over the sheep, and praying to the Lord. David has one thing that Goliath does not.

Every day we face giants. No, not of the physical kind but things that Satan throws in our path to deter us from looking to God. "He taunts you with bills you can’t pay, people you can’t please, habits you can’t break, failures you can’t forget, and a future you can’t face. But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren’t the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest." (Lucado, Facing Your Giants). No matter how we look at it, at least one thing is controlling what we do, how we do it, and how we act. Some of us try to just brush the issue to the side, but a giant will not simply be swept under a rug, and it will not just go away. We have to face it head on, look it in the face, and tell that Giant it will not rule our lives.
Back to David's story, No one was giving him a chance to defeat Goliath. He was the laughing stock of the town, because while everyone was running from Goliath, David was ready to face him head on. "When all the Israelite men saw Goliath, they retreated from him terrified" (I Samuel 17:24). David decided he would go tell King Saul that he would face this giant and save their land from any more persuction and embarrasment. While Saul laughed at him for his youthfulness, David listed his resume:

"Your servant has been tending his father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came

and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down,

and rescued [the lamb] from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab

it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears;

this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies

of the living God." Then David said, "The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the

lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine" (I Samuel 17:34-37).

Saul then gave David the blessing to enter into the battlefield and to fight Goliath. King Saul let David borrow his armor, however, David was not use to the armor and it was a bit too big for him. Therfore, he took his staff, went to the river, gathered 5 smooth stones, took his sling, and approached Goliath. (I Samuel 17:38-40)

Goliath began to mock David, for all he had was his youth and good looks. Goliath had strength, and a sizable advantage physically, but this is where David's advantage comes into play. "David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with a dagger, spear, and sword, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel's armies— you have defied Him."" (I Samuel 17:45).

David also delivered a promise that once Goliath was defeated, he would cut off his head and then everyone would know that the battle belongs to the Lord. David delievered on his promise as he sank one stone into the forehead of this Giant who had embarrassed and perscuted David's people for far too long.

If David can face his giants head on, why can't we? We have an advantage over every single one, just as David did. Our battles belong to the Lord, he will guide us to victory. Make the perscution stop. Instead of hearing your giant in the back of your head laughing at you, face him, defeat him, and laugh at him. Do not let the giant of failure bring up past failures, instead look to the future and learn from your mistakes. Do not be haunted by them. Giant of divorce, you will not rip through my home. It stops right here, my family will no longer suffer from your constant reminder of the pain that you brought to us. Instead, we will look ahead to the future GOD has layed before us. FACE AND DEFEAT YOUR GIANTS!
We have hope! God saw something in David that many others did not see. David stumbled more than he stood tall. He was defeated more than he was able to gain victory. David had an affair, a love child, and formed a plan to have someone killed. Yet God said David was a man after His own heart. If God can give David so many chances, he will give us the same opportunities to experience His love, if you will let Him. God will take over your battles if you allow him. Many of us have heard the voice of the giant, we know his name, we know what he looks like, and where he lives. For those of you who know the sound of a giant, David gives this reminder:

"Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—your giants tumble."

(Lucado, Facing your Giants)

Let David's story inspire you to defeat the giants in your lives, and realize the battle belongs to the LORD.