Reading: Mark 14, Psalm 37:39

“But the salvation of the righteous [is] from the LORD; [He is] their strength in the time of trouble.”

When facing a battle it is important to have the strength necessary to win. Most people endeavor to fight life’s battles depending on their own human energy and intelligence. But it is essential to remember that as believers we have two sources of strength: our own, and the Lord’s. As God’s children, we have a source of strength that is far beyond our own resources. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might…”, when facing the enemy.

All through the scripture we have example after example of the Lord delivering His people in their time of trouble. The strength of the Lord was revealed when He split the Red Sea so the children of Israel could escape their enemies. It showed up for Paul and Silas in prison as they sang praise to the Lord and He shook the earth and broke their bonds. God’s strength came upon a weary Elijah enabling him to call down fire from heaven and then outrun the chariots of Ahab.

We see this powerfully in the life of David. While he was just a young teen God used his faith to win a battle he was not equipped to win. Israel was at war with the Philistines. Because David was too young to fight, his father sent him to bring rations to his brothers on the battlefield.

The Philistines had paralyzed Israel by sending their best warrior - a nine foot tall blood thirsty giant - to challenge the army of Israel. Day after day Goliath would taunt God’s people with threats of death and torture that he would inflict upon them. The tactic worked. The armies of Israel were terrified and unable to gather the strength to face the Giant.

But when David heard Goliath’s threats he became filled with holy anger at this overgrown enemy. His vision of God and His Promises were greater than the appearance of this apparently undefeatable enemy. He offered to take up the fight himself. David was not acting out of arrogance or youthful bravado. He could easily see the odds were stacked against him. But his heart had been saturated in the promises and presence of God. He did not rely on his strength to win the fight with Goliath. Instead, he relied on the strength of his covenant with God!

David had previous experience as a shepherd of his father’s flocks. He had faced down both a lion and a bear. That zeal for his father’s sheep was the foundation of his zeal for his heavenly Father’s sheep - Israel.

To convince King Saul David said, "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 Sam 17:36. David took the weapons that he had in his hands and defeated the giant with a slingshot and a single stone. His faith released God’s strength to deliver him from evil.

David took his prior experience with God and used it to cultivate the confidence he needed to engage in the battle he was facing. Too often, as believers, we want something or someone else to give us the confidence to confront the battles we face today.

There are times we need to encourage ourselves and speak to the Giants we are facing. We need to remember how we have seen God move in our lives and declare by faith He will do it again in the future.

Unfortunately, we often believe the lie that what we have is inadequate for God to use. Initially, David tried to prepare for battle by putting on Saul's armor. But it didn’t fit. Instead, he used a simple shepherd’s slingshot. He stepped into the battle, confident in God’s ability to use what he had to do the impossible.

In our times of trouble we need to face our giants with confidence that the Lord will provide the strength needed to win.

As you sit before the Lord today, identify the Giants in your life that you feel powerless to overcome. What are the battles you may be avoiding because they feel overwhelming? Is it possible that you are trying to handle then in your own strength?
In your journal make a list of any giants that come to mind. Then write a simple prayer to the Lord asking Him for the strength and courage to face them.

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