Goliath, the great Philistine warrior is in the center of the valley smack talking the army of Israel. They are shaking in their armor! Who is brave enough to face this 9 foot giant? No one is making a move on the side of Israel, but wait --- Who is this kid on the field? There is a young boy approaching the giant. There is some verbal exchange and what is that? The boy just accepted the challenge! This is crazy! He has no armor on. Has he even seen a battle before? What is he thinking? Look at the young boy. The giant is laughing! What is that in the boy's hand? Is that a sling? It is! It is a sling! He has a sling in his hand, waving it in the air as he runs toward Goliath. What is he doing? Oh wow! He launched a stone. What? Oh my gosh! I cannot believe it! The giant has fallen. He is down! What an upset! If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it! They say his name is David and he is a shepherd, visiting his brothers in the Israeli army. Wow! What an upset. The Israeli army chases down the Philistines. What a victory!
Sometimes we are in the heat of the battle, just like the Israeli army. None of the men of war had the courage to face the Philistine giant. Goliath was known for slaughtering his opponents. None of the men were willing to go down and fight him. David did not plan to kill a giant when he set out to give his brothers some food from their father. He was checking in on them so he could report back to his father. David was a young boy. He was not in the army. So why did he get involved?
David heard the Philistine slandering God. David was not going to sit by and let that continue. He had been a good shepherd to the sheep he was given. He fought a bear and a lion and he knew God had delivered these dangerous, wild beasts into his hands. So he knew God would protect him from a loud-mouth giant.
Have we got to that point yet? Have we decided that God has seen us through these trials and hardships before and He is not going to fail us now? We need to get our hope back. We need to get our courage up and tell the enemy we are not going to be backed into a corner. We are children of the Most High God and He is our buckler and shield. He is our protector. He is our triumphant champion and He will win every battle for us.
1 SAMUEL 17:45-46 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air; and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
Some of the talk of the talented race car drivers are how at a young age they showed real potential and ability. Each race hones their skills and enhances their performance. They have to beat and bang their way to the front but the ones who want it most will be hyper-focused on getting the lead and keeping it. Sometimes it seems like we go around and around the same situations and the same problems. Each time we go around we learn something new and if we hold tight to faith, we will eventually get the victory. The stakes will get higher and the payout more but the battles do not get easier. The victors will be those who keep showing up when they get their cars torn up, make mistakes and learn from them, and never lose focus of getting the checkered flag.
What battles are you facing? When it rained, what made it pour? Do you feel beaten and battered by the enemy? Do not lose focus. Do not give up. Do not let the times you spin out or run off the top of the track sideline you. Get back in the race! Keep going! Stay strong and finish well.
I know this illustration is a little silly to some, but if you think about it, it makes sense. What is the announcer saying about the race of your life? Are they saying, "Coming from the rear is (insert your name here). What an upset! No one saw them coming! They are headed to the top spot! Look at them go. God is with them and they are getting the checkered flag. We will catch them in Victory Lane!"
I encourage you to read 1 Samuel chapter 17. It is an awesome account of what happened the day that the giant fell! What giants do you need to slay in your life? Let this chapter be some fuel for your weekend. I hope it is a great one. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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