Conquering the giants in your life (2)

Goliath’s ancestors were Israel’s long-standing enemies. And when Joshua entered the Promised Land, he annihilated them all—except the inhabitants of Gath where Goliath hailed from. Why is that important to note? Because if you don’t kill the enemy and cut off his head, he’ll rise to fight you again. Maybe you’re wrestling with issues your parents and grandparents grappled with; things like addiction, marriage problems, anger, worry and depression. David put “five…stones from a stream…into his shepherd’s bag” (v. 40 NLT) because he didn’t know how many he’d need to do the job. And there are certain “stones” you need to take with you to conquer the giants in your life. (1) Be relentless. It may take more than a day, a month, or even a year to see results. But with God’s help you’ll win if you persevere. (2) Get God involved. God’s priority is His reputation, and David’s objective was to defend it by declaring, “There is a God in Israel” (v. 46 NLT). (3) Keep praying and believing God for victory. “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare” (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). Rehearsing your hurts won’t heal them and cataloguing your problems won’t solve them. But prayer will. (4) Recall your earlier victories. David announced, “God, who delivered me from the…lion and…bear, will deliver me from this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37 MSG). When you’re afraid of the future, call to mind God’s past faithfulness: “Remember the wonders he…performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” (1 Chronicles 16:12 NLT). With God’s help you can conquer the giants in your life!