david
What Is Your Giant?
The story of David and Goliath is a well known biblical narrative. Say Goliath today and most people would know that you are talking about something or someone who is very big and tall. Goliath was a Philistine warrior. The Philistines were going to battle with the Israelites. Goliath stood out front and taunted the Israelites. “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us” (1 Samuel 17:8-9). The Israelites were not running out to meet this man who was over 9 feet tall. They were terrified! This taunting continued for 40 days.
David went back and forth from the camp to his father, Jesse. He was the youngest, so he still had the charge of shepherding the sheep. Jesse sent him with food for his brothers. As David arrived, the two armies were drawing up into battle positions for the morning. Goliath came forward and challenged the army. David volunteered to fight the giant. He had killed a bear and a lion, to David, the giant was no different. The armor that King Saul offered him was too big. David went without physical armor but instead, went to battle in the name of the Lord. He killed the giant with his sling and one stone.
Read 1 Samuel 17 for all the details of the story.
David was a mere shepherd boy without any armor, yet he won a major battle for the Israelites. All of the odds were against him, yet he was able to stay focused because he knew the task for which God had prepared him.
Do you sometimes have to battle with a giant in your life?
Some examples may be forgiving others, gluttony (my big huge towering giant), lying, sexual impurity, pride, etc…
Have you figured out what weapons God has given you to use against the giants?
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
~Eph 6:13-18
What steps can you take to tackle the giants in your life?
The very first step is to remember that you can do all things through God because He is the one who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13). The next step is to put on the truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, word of God, and praying armor. David fought in the name of God. Look what it did for him!
As you pray today, ask God to strengthen you to face the giants that are towering over you this very moment. If you are suited up in His armor, he’ll give you a sling and a stone.
(special thank you to Micah for allowing me to use his lesson for this post)
The 23rd Psalm
David was an amazing writer. His psalms capture the personality of God, as Father, provider, and guide through all creation and nature. None so much as the 23rd Psalm.
Psalm 23 – A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
This beautiful writing is one of the most read passage in the Bible. Can you see why? I ask you to read this in prayer five times in a row. Each time really think about the words. Really pray and meditate on the words. This was an exercise that I did while working out of Maxie Dunnam’s The Workbook of Living Prayer (It’s a fantastic study regardless of where you are in your prayer life). I will be honest that the first time I did this, I ended the exercise with uncontrollable tears flowing down my face.
David had a way of praying that made one thing clear. Prayer is a privilege not a duty. We don’t have an obligation to pray to God. We have the privilege of praying to God. It is the way we keep in relationship with God.
I know on the third day of the fast you feel as if you are walking through the darkest valley. It is by far the most difficult day of the fast. Know that it is temporary just as every dark valley in your life is temporary. God will get you through it. Being in the dark valley is not something that is permanent. Keep walking. Keep focusing on God. Consider yourself privileged to pray. Keep praying. Walk THROUGH with His guidance. There is light at the end of the dark valley. God is waiting for your prayers to deepen your relationship with Him. Draw closer to Him in the next 18 days. Put all of your focus on God. Forget about darkness. It is temporary. Focus on light. It is everlasting.
21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 