Beth Moore has an amazing study on David. It’s called A Heart Like His. I highly recommend it if you get the chance to take the Bible study! I have wanted to share my experience of what God revealed to me in the story of David’s life of when David, a young smarty pants boy goes up against Goliath the Philistine giant. I call this the story of David’s way. May we be blessed to see this story to inspire us to live and see life David’s way!

So, we are in the book of 1 Samuel, the 17th chapter. What God highlighted for me was the following…watch this… Paraphrased/condensed from the whole chapter:

Others/narrator saying this: Then Goliath… a giant of a man…the Philistine giant strutted in front of the Israelite army…have you seen the Giant?...

In comes David’s perspective, a bit different choice of words, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway?”

Others: That is the reward for killing the giant.

David: “I’ll go fight this Philistine!”

King Saul: “There is no way that you can go against this Philistine.”

David’s finale, “Today the LORD will conquer you (the pagan Philistine). It is his battle, not ours.”

So, what do all the others call Goliath? A giant- right! What does David call him? Well, never a giant, and always just a Philistine. And then there is the reason why? Why do they only call him a giant, and he only calls the opponent a Philistine?  Perhaps because all of the others were putting their faith in their own abilities (or lack thereof) to battle the opponent which compared to themselves in size was a giant. But… David’s way was to see the opponent through his heart, through his trust in God to be the one to battle for him. David had no concern for his strength, his abilities to fight the battle, or anything else. He just trusted God to deliver him and the Israelites. Beautiful! Perspective 101- right?

But, you say, “King Saul also called him a Philistine, and not a Giant.” True, he was the only other one in the story that doesn’t call Goliath a giant. So, why does God have this included in the story? Perhaps that coupled with the fact that King Saul didn’t fight the “Philistine” says even more. He may have had the correct perspective to see Goliath as just a Philistine and not a giant, but he did not have the faith, trust, or courage to battle the Philistine. But… because David had faith in our mighty LORD, and trusted the LORD to fight the battle, he found the courage to face the opponent. Do you have faith in the LORD to fight your battles for you? Do you have the courage to yet another day face the opponent with complete confidence?

In summary, like Beth Moore writes I want A Heart Like His, but I also want to see like David. I want that heartfelt trust in God to transform the way I see the giants in my life, and for my body and brain to act accordingly with FIERCE courage and security of who I am in Christ! Can I get an AMEN?

Be encouraged today. What are your giants? Abuse, abandonment, cancer, lies from the enemy, bankruptcy, betrayal , infidelity, loneliness, fear, alcoholism, disease, broken heart, suicidal thoughts, anger, craving the wrong kind of attention, foot in mouth disease, teenagers (need I say more?), or being a teenager?

Whatever your giants are that you are up against, take comfort in the truth that it is the LORD’s battle, not ours. Now take that comfort and transform that into the courage to not only face, but walk up to and handle your giants!  "The battle is HIS, not ours."  1 Samuel 17:47b NIV