Seven Actions to Defeat Your Giant -- Part 5

The fifth of a series of weekly articles. See end for links to previous posts.

FIFTH ACTION: As you fight your battle, you must do what you know to do (1 Samuel 17:48-50).

In previous articles, we discussed how David was prepared by God mentally, physically, and spiritually to enter the battlefield. Then, he stood before the giant and, in the first battle action, he declared that the battle was the Lord's and victory was ensured. Now, comes the moment of truth — David must fight! The anticipated battle would indeed be short and decisive. But the outcome was not what the spectator armies anticipated.

THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him" (1 Samuel 17:48-50).

Let’s highlight what David did in this intense and personal battle.

First, David followed the battle plan. He "ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." Since the battle was inevitable, David took the offensive and charged the giant in confidence. David did not allow doubt and fear to enter his thoughts. He had a battle to fight and a victory to win. He approached Goliath with confidence. Please note that David did not allow Goliath to land the first blow. If David had hesitated or cowered ever so slightly, Goliath would have attacked and crushed him straight away for the giant was that powerful.

Second, David relied on his training. No doubt, he had slung a stone countless times in practice and also in battle against a lion and a bear. He knew that the sling in his hand was a lethal weapon. David's mind was battle ready and his body was battle tested. He relied on muscle memory and his training; all in preparation for this exact moment!

When the battle started, David did what he knew to do; attack and kill. The season of preparing personally and strategizing the battle plan was over. This was not the time to hesitate nor to second guess. This was the time to enact the plan and to do so in confidence. David was called by God for this mission and he did what he knew to do to complete the mission.

DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO

Like David, you followed our first three actions to prepare you for the battle. As the battle began, you declared that the battle belonged to the Lord. Now, in the second battle action, you do what you know to do (I Samuel 17:48-50); you must follow the battle plan and you must rely on your training.

The starting point is to determine whose battle plan are you going to follow. Will you follow God's plan that is revealed in His Word, the Bible? Will you follow the mindset of the world that we read online and in tabloids? Or, will you combine these two options and just follow your heart?

In the last hours of Jesus' life on earth, as recorded in the Gospel of John, Jesus is being interrogated by Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate is attempting to learn why Jesus was brought before him and if he should get involved in the impending trial. Their verbal interaction leads Jesus to say, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:37). Then, Pilate asked question that reverberates through the centuries, "What is truth?" (John 18:38).

This is fascinating to me! Pilate has the very definition of Truth standing before him and he is blinded spiritually and cannot recognize who Jesus is. The truth is that Jesus is "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).

As you formulate your battle plan and then do what you know to do, I encourage you in the strongest way possible to build your plan upon the Truth. Truth is found in God's Word. Read it, memorize it, and live it. You will then build your house upon the rock and not upon the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). This house will withstand the rains, floods, and winds of life that look to destroy you. And, the truth that Jesus taught is that "everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." When the storms came, his house was destroyed.

BATTLE STRATEGY

As you face the giant in your life, you must build your battle strategy upon the truth of God's Word and act accordingly. Here are some ways this is applied in your life.

First, pray, fast, and call on the Lord and ask Him what you should do. Jeremiah 29:13 teaches us, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Second, ensure that your response is motivated by love — your motivation is to obey God's will and allow Him to balance the scales of justice. God will bring the victory. Also, consult the Sermon on the Mount, specifically what are called "the Beatitudes" (Matthew 5:3-10), for how you are to engage your giant.

Third, your actions and reactions, as you engage the giant, must honor God. Allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in you. If you are led by the Spirit, He will guide you in these moments.

We are to do what we know to do as we fight the giant in our lives. If we are to pray, then pray. If we are to sacrifice, then make that sacrifice. If we are to examine our hearts and repent (James 4:8), then we are to repent. We do know that we are to act righteously at all times so we must do so even while we battle.

But remember that God is still in control. Proverbs 16:9 teaches us, "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps" (NLT). Take comfort in knowing that we are accountable only to do that which we know to do. When we follow wholeheartedly after God, He will direct our steps.

The second aspect of David doing what he knew to do was that he relied on his training. One had better be well-versed and battle-tested when attempting to fight a giant with a sling shot! Certainly, David was a master at this type of warfare and his sling shot was a lethal weapon. In the same way, you must rely on your training as you encounter your giant.

The question is, are you in training now? What are you doing on a daily basis to strength your relationship with God? What spiritual disciplines are you practicing (prayer, fasting, loving your neighbor, loving God)? Are you expressing your love to God by the way you treat other people in your daily life and in your monthly giving? When chaos strikes and the surrounding noise of life is deafening, can you hear the still, small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12)?

If your life is in tune with God, then you can do what you know to do and do so with righteous confidence. God is with you. His relationship with you is built to withstand attacks from your spiritual enemies. Your trust, your faith, and your obedience to Him will bring ultimate victory.

As Paul wrote, do not give up! "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

To read the previous posts of this series, click one of the following: Preamble, Seven Actions No. 1, Seven Actions No. 2, Seven Actions No. 3, or Seven Actions No. 4.