Facing Your Giants #290

I Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”

Do you have a giant taunting you? Are you discouraged and feeling defeated? Does the giant seem insurmountable? Take a good look at how God deals with giants. Your giant may be a spiritual issue; you feel God is far away, sin keeps knocking at your door and you see no victory; faith eludes you. Maybe your giant is financial. There seems to be no end to the debts, the overdue bills and the lack of provisions for your needs. It could be you are facing the giant of broken relationships with family members; your spouse, a friendship that has gone south and reconciliation has evaded you. Are you facing a physical giant? Your health has failed, the pain and devastation to your body is unbearable and you don’t know where to turn.

David found himself facing the giant Goliath. No one in Israel was willing to face him. He poked fun at the whole nation and the response was fear. David takes the challenge to go head to head with him. David’s answer was based upon the recognition that the battle was not between him and the giant, but between the giant and God. Your giant is frustrating, discouraging and defeating you, but don’t ever forget that God is on your side. Romans 8:31 “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (NLT) Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (NAS)

God defeated Goliath, but David’s part was faith. Trust God with whatever giant you are facing today. “Faith is the victory.” I John 5:4 (my paraphrase)

__________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greeting from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ

Band concerts, music concerts, Bass Pro Shop, birthday party preparation, preaching and teaching, doctors appointments, medical tests, and back to church are all keeping Sandy and I busy. We love it. 

Johnny will be three years old on Saturday
the 8th. I again want to thank all of you who prayed for him when he was born at 29 weeks. We were not sure that he would survive. He has and is a very typical three year old. He helped his Grammie plant flowers this week. He stayed with her for two hours with his little bucket of dirt and his gloves putting petunias in the pots. 

Justin tried to do his part: pulling the plants back out of the ground and watering everything. (see pic) We took both boys to Bass Pro Shop on Monday. They loved it. Justin was especially excited about the big animals. Johnny liked the fish. 

Burke and Bennett are headed out of town for Spring Break. Burke is headed to Boston and Bennett to Europe. I am so glad they have such great opportunities with their school. We had dinner with them at Culvers to talk to them about the trip. 

Collin's two bands played on Tuesday night. He plays trumpet and percussion in two separate bands. Always a great time for me and Sandy. I have to say that he is good. 

He begins this next week playing in the Tempe Wind Symphony. Their concert will be in the Tempe Center for the Arts. The Symphony is a select group of Tempe students. Real proud of him. 

I am doing better every day. Still seeing doctors to find out the result of my tests. I have received some already. The CT scan of the liver denotes more tumors and major growth of the existing ones. Needless to say that is not good. Really appreciate your prayers. 

If the Lord is willing I will be preaching at Northpointe Baptist Church in Chandler, AZ on the 16th. The pastor is a close friend who used to be in our church at First Baptist. I have preached many times at Northpointe and looking forward to being with them again. Join me at 10:30 on the 16th. Sandy and I plan to go camping with Grace Community Church at Roosevelt Lake on the 20th-22nd. I will be speaking at the morning worship service at the Lake. 

Sandy continues to teach her Young Mom's Bible study at First Baptist Church of Tempe. She enjoys her ministry and really loves her young Moms. 

Thanks for your prayers during this past month. It has been a difficult time. I am so glad the majority of the pain is past and that I am recovering well. You will never know how much I appreciate your prayers, emails, cards, phone calls and love you have sent to me and Sandy. Love you all.

May God bless you as you face your Giants!! See the devotional for today. 

~ DGW