ROOTED RENEGADE

Giants try to wear you down and exhaust you so you will quit on your own.

Read 1 Samuel 17:1-58

If you have ever been worn down and exhausted you understand how it doens’t just wear you down phyiscally, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Unfortunately, we tend to do this to ourselves because we don’t rest from work and responsibilities.

We also battle giants whose sole purpose is to wear us down so we will give up and quit. It can be difficult at times to determine whether it’s our own lack of taking rest or the pesky giant. Which is why we need to recognize the differences and rely on Holy Spirit for understanding.

When we are the culprit:

1. We don’t make time in our schedules to unplug and unwind.
2. We put others needs constantly before our own in a way that is unbalanced and unhealthy.
3. We don’t have a good balance between ministry and family/self-care.
4. We forgot what it’s like to have fun.
5. We don’t spend time with the Lord like we used to because we have become to ‘busy’.

When giants are taunting us:

1. We are unusally tired like we never get enough rest.
2. We are sluggish mentally to the point we can’t concentrate on the Word when we read it.
3. We can barely pray and worship because we are so exhausted.
4. We feel like we are constantly fighting battles and gaining no ground.
5. Every area of our life is attacked at one time, causing us to feel like we can’t catch a break.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it helps us better understand so we can shift our perspectives. We can see this giant in action in the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. I want to briefly mention some highlights that I feel will help us grasp what we are dealing with at times.

Goliath:

1. He did the same thing every day for 40 days straight.
2. His stature alone was intimidating.
3. He knew the men were afraid of him and he used it to his advantage.
4. He knew that the promise he made didn’t matter because no one from Saul’s army would face him.
5. He did not see David coming because of his arrogance and pride.

David:

1. He had a fire for the God of Israel in his bones and it needed to come out.
2. He knew God deeply and personally
3. He trusted God to protect him from harm.
4. He had a righteous indignation over Goliath’s taunts against Saul’s army.
5. He spoke with truth while others allowed fear to rule their hearts.
6. He knew he had with him all that he needed to go into battle.
7. He boldy proclaimed victory in the name of the Lord Almighty.
8. He declared God to be the only God.
9. He declared the battle belonged to the Lord and it would not be by sword or spear that would bring God’s salavation.
10. He won with one stone and a slingshot because the Lord God of Angel Armies divinely appointed him to.

David knew how to trust in the Lord’s salvation because what He called him to, He would see him through. And so should we.

We win because of Jesus. We don’t win on our own. We can’t win in our own strength. But when we rely on the Lord, the Word, and His truth, we can fight from a place of victory instead of defeat.

Giants will do all they can to take us off course because they don’t want us to succeed. But God holds us in His hands and no one can snatch us out. Not even a giant. So hold fast my friends to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.

Faythe