1 Samuel 17:45-47 David said to the Philistine, “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. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

This story is so very familiar to us. The courageous David, who did not know the meaning of fear. Few stories show as clearly as this one what it means to trust fully in God.

This was David’s declaration of faith. Here we see something of David’s heart, and it shows exactly why he was later called a man after God’s own heart.

David saw the picture completely differently from the soldiers. The soldiers saw the giant’s physical size, but David saw a man mocking God. And David declared he was standing there on the battlefield in the name of God.

He said: “I stand under the authority of God. I bear God’s honour, and therefore I trust in God’s power.” This is the mark of true intimacy with God: knowing and trusting Him so deeply that fear has no place.

David admitted in so many words that it was not he who determined whether he would win, but God. God decides who will win. Yes, David did his part. He ran, he threw the stone, knowing the outcome was determined by God.

Today, intimacy with God still looks exactly the same. We must do our part in obedience, but our faith and trust must be in God and in His presence in our lives.

So, when you are in a battle, ask yourself whether you are standing with your own sword or gun, or whether you are standing in the Name of the Lord. Only within an intimate relationship with God does trust grow, and you find the courage to tackle the impossible.

Prayer
Father, I trust too little to follow You blindly. I want to spend more time with You so that I can trust You completely …

Questions
What “giants” are currently making you feel afraid and insecure?
Do you trust more in your own abilities or in God’s power?
Do you walk so closely with God that His glory matters more to you than your own fears?

Do this now
Think about your biggest challenge today and write it down.
Pray specifically about it and say out loud that you choose to trust God more than your fear.
Then take one small practical step in faith that shows you are not giving up or running away, even if the “giant” still feels big.