The Mindset of A Giant-Slayer
David said to Saul, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of the Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go and the LORD be with you.”
I Samuel 17:32-37.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of the Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go and the LORD be with you.”
I Samuel 17:32-37.
One man,Goliath, had decisively shut down the entire army of Israel with fear. He had defied the armies of the Almighty God and he seemed to be getting away with it. The mindset of the fearful Israelite army is captured in the words of king Saul to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine and fight him.” That was the mindset of the king who was charged with the overall leadership of the fighting forces. No wonder the rest of the soldiers were terrified and deeply shaken.
But David had a different mindset. David had the mindset of a giant-slayer based upon his past divinely-orchestrated victories. First: David reminded Saul that the same God who empowered him to rescue the sheep and kill both the lion and the bear, will grant him victory over Goliath.
Second: David reminded Saul that Goliath would be defeated because he had done an abominable thing by disrespecting and belittling the armies of the Living God.
There are two responses that can emanate from us when we face a giant-like situation: we can either have a mindset of fear and defeat; or we can have the mindset of a giant-slayer.
The mindset of a giant-slayer takes confidence and inspiration from past victories based upon the faithfulness of God. The giant-slayer walks confidently with the notion that the God who granted the victories of yesterday has the power to do the same thing today. The mindset of the giant-slayer also remains confident that God will arise and vindicate Himself against those who dare to defy Him. In other words, God is big enough to defend Himself and His people.
Life has all kinds of challenges that can cause us either to recoil in despair and defeat or challenge us to boldly take on and defeat the giant. Victory over the giant can only be attained with the mindset of a giant-slayer. You are not a destitute person. You are a giant-slayer.
But David had a different mindset. David had the mindset of a giant-slayer based upon his past divinely-orchestrated victories. First: David reminded Saul that the same God who empowered him to rescue the sheep and kill both the lion and the bear, will grant him victory over Goliath.
Second: David reminded Saul that Goliath would be defeated because he had done an abominable thing by disrespecting and belittling the armies of the Living God.
There are two responses that can emanate from us when we face a giant-like situation: we can either have a mindset of fear and defeat; or we can have the mindset of a giant-slayer.
The mindset of a giant-slayer takes confidence and inspiration from past victories based upon the faithfulness of God. The giant-slayer walks confidently with the notion that the God who granted the victories of yesterday has the power to do the same thing today. The mindset of the giant-slayer also remains confident that God will arise and vindicate Himself against those who dare to defy Him. In other words, God is big enough to defend Himself and His people.
Life has all kinds of challenges that can cause us either to recoil in despair and defeat or challenge us to boldly take on and defeat the giant. Victory over the giant can only be attained with the mindset of a giant-slayer. You are not a destitute person. You are a giant-slayer.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you that as overwhelming as some situations might be, I do not have to recoil in fear. Please help me to develop the attitude of a giant-slayer because that is my portion as your child. Amen