No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5
Daily, we all must face challenges of some sort and those challenges have a name, called GIANTS. Sometimes, we must face one giant at a time, but other times they come at as two or more at a time. Either way, it more than often leaves us feeling emotional, tired, drained, desperate, sad, upset, negative, anxious, fearful and despondent. These feelings, are the opposite of what Jesus brings, which is love, peace and joy. Therefore, they must come from a source, which is not God and if something is not from God, it is from satan. We must remember that although we face difficulties every day, we still have a choice on how they affect us. God tells us in Luke 10:19: “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” If we have authority over the enemy, we have authority over our emotions and feelings as well. Yes, we are human and we make mistakes, but we if we are in Christ, then we must learn to use the authority of Christ in us.
Have you watched the movie called, Hacksaw Ridge, with Andrew Garfield in the leading role as Private Desmond Doss? He is a Christian, who went into battle, without a rifle, fighting the enemy, standing on the Word and power of God. This is a true story and the battle at Hacksaw Ridge, on the island of Okinawa, was a close combat fight with heavy weaponry. Desmond Doss was credited with saving 75 soldiers, during one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the Pacific — and he did it without ever carrying a weapon.
In our marriage, workplace, finances, health, friendship, school, college and every area of our lives, we are constantly on a battle ground, facing the giants, who want to distract, falsely accuse, hurt and destroy us. The reality is, as long as there is satan, there will be a battleground and giants. So, what do we do and how do we face these giants? Running away won’t help and drawing on our own strength will leave us incapacitated. Perhaps, by the world’s point of view of luck, you might stand long enough, only to see the next giant coming your way. However, sooner or later, they will overwhelm you and leave you disabled, hopeless and ready to give up on life. So, what then should we do? Let us look at the life of David. In 1 Samuel 17, we read about David, facing the giant, Goliath. In summary:
- There was a giant, named Goliath, who was feared by the whole Army of Saul.
- There was a battleground.
- There was shepherds’ boy, called David, who was fearless in God.
- Goliath was unsaved, arrogant and rude, cursing God and his people.
- David was anointed, blessed, knew the strength of His God and knew his true identity in God.
- David was Godly unhappy and did not understand why the Israelites did not stand up for God.
- David went unto the battleground, facing the giant and defeating it in the name of the Lord.
When we look at the defeat of the giant, we need to focus on a few critical aspects:
- David had to step unto the battleground and had to face the giant. Sometimes, our battles will require of us to go into the battlefield, which means, there will be screaming, bruising, cuts, pain, blood and sometimes death. However, remember that in Christ, every battle is already won and although death on earth is inevitable, our souls in Christ, will live forever. Praise Jesus for that!
- No battle is easy and we need to make sure that we are prepared and equipped for every battle. David was offered, Saul’s gear. However, it was too big and uncomfortable, so he went into the battle, with what God equipped him with. We must not try to be someone else when we face battles. Be who God intended you to be and in faith, firmly affixed in Christ, face the battles head on.
- Choose your weapon of choice carefully. God says that we fight with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
- David was in God and for God.
- He prepared for the battleground by taking with him, his staff, sling and 5 smooth stones.
- He went unto the battleground, fearless.
- He was dressed in the full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10 – 18)
- He first addressed the giant, with the Word of God, which was his first weapon of choice, saying to Goliath: “…You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)
- He then used the sling and stone, ending off the challenge, by bringing Goliath to the ground; where after he cut of the giant’s head, with his own sword.
For me, it is very clear that David understood his true identity in the Lord and used the authority that God had given him. The question then is, do we use our authority in Christ, when we are facing the giants in our lives, or are we overwhelmed by their magnitude? They will come and we must face them. Yes, some will knock us down, but get up and fight again, for each fight will grow you stronger to face the next. Every battle becomes a testimony from which you can coach and motivate others. So, when you are knocked down, get up, look up, remember that you wear a helmet of salvation, a breastplate of righteousness, a belt of truth and the gospel of peace at your feet. Take up your shield of faith and pull your Sword, which is the Word of God. Take courage today in God’s Word, telling you to be strong and courageous, to not be terrified, for He Himself will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
2 Chronicles 20:15 says: “…Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Dear reader, remember every battle that you need to face, is not yours, but God’s. Yes, you must face the giant in front of you, but not by might, nor by power, by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6). Go onto the battleground prepared, choose the Word of God as your first weapon of choice and be fearless. Stand firm and taste the victory in Christ. Amen!
I close with the lyrics of “I will fight” by Pastor Steven Furtick:
“The christian life is not a playground – it’s a battleground, so today I will give no place to fear or failure. I will not accept a trace of apathy in my attitude or actions. I will reject complacency and I will embrace the greatness that God has planted inside of me. I will waste no opportunity to glorify God and maximise everything he has entrusted to me. I will fight. My battle is not against flesh and blood, but against a spiritual enemy, so I will draw up the battle lines and face my enemy with a bold determination. I will dismantle every argument and pretention he presents which contradicts what God has spoken. My enemy fights against me because he fears me. Every time he reminds me of my past, I will remind him of his future. Every time I resist him he must flee. Every time I speak the truth, every stronghold must surrender. I will fight. I will make no excuses, but through every obstacle, I will find a way. I will not procrastinate my progress. I will not defer my destiny. I will not waiver when I am weak. I will not cower when my circumstances turn for the worst, for greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. I will fight. I will pursue, overtake and recover everything that the enemy has come to kill steal and destroy in my life and even if I lose the battle, I will win the war, because I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. I am raised to life in Jesus Christ and I reign with Him, because I look to Him for strength. I will reject the lies that echo in my mind, telling me that I don’t have what it takes, that I cannot survive this trial, that my best is behind me or that humiliation awaits me. The devil is a liar and my God always causes me to triumph, through Jesus Christ my Lord. I will fight. I am unashamed to represent a Kingdom that is unshakable. No one will be able to stand against God’s plan for me, all the days of my life. With my God, I will advance against every troop. With His help, I will scale every wall. Though my enemy surrounds me, my God surrounds my enemies. Though they come at me one way, they will flee seven ways, because no weapon formed against me shall prosper and every evil thing that rises up against me, I will condemn. I will fight!” Amen!
Love in Christ, Princess K