Thursday, May 23, 2013

When You Need a Bigger Boat

In 1 Samuel 17, we find David about to face the giant Goliath. Now, Goliath was huge.  He was nine and a half feet tall, and you can bet he worked out!  

When David heard about this giant who threatened the Israelite army, he asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"  David showed no fear.  He knew God was on his side.  He had seen how God had helped in the past and knew He would help him in this situation ( 1 Sam 17:35-36).

He faced the giant and spoke to the giant, "The battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands." 

We too have giants we need to face.  They may not be physically nine feet tall, but they can seem just as insurmountable in size.

Like David, we need to know some things before we are ready to face our giants.

What did David know?  What was it that made Him so ready and EAGER even to face this giant with certainty that he would come out victorious?

1.  David knew His God.   He spent many hours in the presence of the Lord.  Before David was a giant slayer, he was a harp player.  He spent many hours singing and praising the Lord in the middle of the meadow.  David had a strong relationship with the Lord, which fed his confidence.

2.  David knew His God was with Him and would help him.  He drew confidence from past victories.  "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." (1 Samuel 17:36).

3.  David knew who he was.  He knew God was on His side and that he was in the army of the Living God.

We too can get in a position where we can confidently face our giants: 

Spend time in the presence of the Lord in praise and worship and prayer.  

Remember past victories where God has provided and proved faithful time and again.  

Know who you are, that you are in the army of the Living God.  You are a child of the Most High.   

Who is this giant who dares defy the child of the Most High, and the army of the Living God? 

Once you are ready to face the giants, call them out.  David had to identify the giant, call him out and face him.  What are your giants?  Fear? Insecurity?  Pride?  Marriage issues?  Children struggles?  Health?

After you have identified your giants, speak to them as David did.  Speak God's Word.  God's Word is a double edged sword and it will defeat those giants.

For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb 4:12)

As I identified my giants, I began to speak to them.  I had many scriptures memorized to help conquer the giants.  One giant in particular was bigger than I realized and I knew I needed more ammo.

I thought back to the movie Jaws.  When they went out to face the "giant" shark, it wasn't until they stood face to face with the giant that they realized they might need a "bigger boat."  David only needed one stone, but sometimes we need a "bigger boat".

Get your Bible out and look up verses to speak to your giant.  I found about eight and wrote them on note cards.  Anytime my giants try to rear their ugly heads, I am going to stand like David did and speak to them.  The spoken Word of God is stronger than any sword and more powerful than any giant.  They have to fall in defeat when hit with the ammo of the Word.

Face those giants and speak to them!

Who is this giant that he should defy the armies of the living God. The battle is the Lord's and He will give you into my hands.  Victory is mine!  (Sue paraphrase)  : ) 









6 comments:

  1. Haha!! Loved your analogy of needing a bigger boat!! <3 Great idea of preparing note cards with Scripture to face our giants with. I enjoyed reading your post today!!

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  2. Remember past victories... I love that. There's a Twila Paris song & the line says, "He has never let you down, why start to worry now?" ... that's exactly it... remembering the things God has led us through - not fear the unknown of things that haven't happened!

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  3. What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing this. I, too, have found that sometimes I need a "bigger boat" to battle my worries, fears and circumstances. It was for this reason that I put together a book entitled "There's a Verse for That." It is a compilation of verses to use for ammo when you're afraid, worried, lonely, need guidance, etc. I must admit, my personal copy is bent and worn, but it has proven to be a very effective tool. Not only does it combat my situations, but it reminds me of God's promises.

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  4. Great post! Very thoughtful. I found this very useful!!!

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  5. Thanks for sharing this post. Loved the picture of getting a bigger boat. If God is for us , why do our giants sometime cause us to fall. I like the idea of preparing scripture cards to have handy so you can see the scripture that is there to help in facing whatever the giant is when it surfaces .

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  6. Sue, I'm going to apply your suggestions to my giants. Thank you for being an active agent in God's army.

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