Giants

I recently watched a TV movie attempting to portray the period in King David’s life from his anointing by the prophet Samuel, as the Lord’s chosen successor to King Saul, to his victory over the Philistine champion, the giant Goliath. I wouldn’t recommend the film. The filmmakers obviously decided that the biblical account didn’t have enough adventure or action for the viewing audience, so used their artistic license to excess. They had David engaging in a sword fight with Goliath and wounding him before finishing him off with his sling and stone!

Afterwards, as I re-read the true account of David’s encounter with Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, I remembered reading it when I was nineteen not long after coming to know the Lord. For me that was one of my earliest experiences of hearing God speak to me from His word. The verses that jumped out to me all those years ago were those at the top of this Seed. I saw the truth that I must choose, with God, to face up to the giants in my life or to be defeated by them and remain their slave. I was so excited by that revelation that I shared it publicly when the youth group at the church I attended took part in the Sunday service at another local church.

Sadly, I didn’t realise the gravity of what the Lord had shown me and the consequences if I failed to live it out, and I spent most of my twenties running from or avoiding facing up to the giants in my life and remaining in miserable subjection to them. It was only when I finally surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus in my early thirties that I began to know the victory of facing those giants in His name and beginning to walk free of their humiliating rule in my life.

All these years later, I still find myself facing issues that can seem like giants - fears, misunderstanding, isolation, and hopes unfulfilled. For the Israelites, when they approached the Promised Land after their wilderness wanderings, the challenge that lay ahead of them was the news that there were giants in the land. For all of us too, who are following Jesus into the purposes and promises He has for our lives, there are giants to be faced and enemies to be overcome.

Perhaps for someone reading this Seed there are particular issues that raise fear when you even think about them. Jesus is the champion who has defeated satan, sin and death on the cross. Why not bring those issues to Him in prayer today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that there are issues in my life that I have avoided facing and have even run away from. I bring them to You today. Please help me face them in Your name and in Your power. Amen.