And the Giants Came Tumbling Down!
Julia Bettencourt

---

"This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand;..."    1 Samuel 17:46


Our Adult Sunday School class at our church has been going through a study on David. A few weeks ago, our teacher was talking about David and Goliath. After Sunday School was over, one of the men of our church leaned up and asked my husband, "Why do you suppose David picked up smooth stones as opposed to anything else?" My ears perked up and I listened for my husband's reply as there seemed to be a little pause and so I was thinking that this was really going to be something insightful or profound maybe. After a moment, my husband said, "Because it was a brook. Brooks have mostly running water. You're mostly going to find smooth stones in a brook." It kind of made me chuckle that it was such a simple profound answer. I began thinking about that and began wondering what type of stones we use to throw at our giants in our lives.

I came up with some things that might make good smooth stones to throw at our giants. We're not going to just have 3 like David. He was a youth at that time, but I'm sure while taking care of his sheep he practiced that sling quite a bit. I'm not so sure about our aim, so we'll have 9 stones, ready in our pouch to sling at those giants that come out to do us battle.

Our Smooth Stones To Have Ready.

1. Smooth Stone of Joy.
   There's nothing more fulfilling to have than the joy of the Lord when the giants come out to fight us. When those giants show up, whether they be financial, healthrelated, or whatever the situation, we need to just stick that stone of joy in our sling and hurl it. It can help knock those giants flat.
   
   "...for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10
   
   
2. Smooth Stone of a Good Attitude.
   Ever notice how we let things bother us when we've got a bad attitude? It may be a small giant that shows up, but when we've got a bad attitude, it can look as big as Goliath. If we throw the smooth stone of a good attitude the giant's way, it becomes a much smaller giant.
   
   "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."  Galatians 5:25
   
   
3. Smooth Stone of God's Word..
   This smooth stone we need to carry around with us all the time. We need to have it hidden safely away in our hearts so that when we need to reach in and place it in our sling, all we have to do is get it out. Recalling comforting and assuring Scriptures when faced with our giants can make a big difference in the outcome of our battles.
   
   "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12
   
   
4. Smooth Stone of Wisdom..
   There's something powerful when we use a little wisdom when facing giants. The Bible is full of such wisdom where raising our kids, financial matters, and everyday life is concerned. If we'd just heed the wisdom that's afforded us, sometimes we wouldn't get faced with such big giants.
   
   "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."  Proverbs 8:11
   
   
5. Smooth Stone of Gratefulness.
   When we are counting our blessings, the giants that come to call don't have such a big impact on us. Grateful hearts give us a different perspective. The giants seem smaller and more surmountable.
   
   And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Colossians 3:15
   
   
6. Smooth Stone of the Promises of God..
   When the giants come out, call our name, and are just waiting to do battle with us, recalling the promises of God can send those giants running. So many promises are given to us to use for our strength. We are promised eternal life, sufficient grace, guidance, that God will never leave us, that He'll keep us from falling, and many others.
   
   "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises..."  2 Peter 1:3
   
   
7. Smooth Stone of Prayer.
   What a giant slayer prayer can be! It can bring such satisfaction when facing a trial or some type of roadblock in our lives. If we'd just get this stone out first and use it, our giants might not stick around so long.
   
   "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  Philippians 4:6
   
   
8. Smooth Stone of Hope in the Lord..
   We have to remember that our hope is in the Lord. He already knows the outcome of our fights with our giants. It is Christ who we rest our hope in.
   
   "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:"   Psalm 146:5
   
   
9. Smooth Stone of the Strength of the Lord.
   What power we have over our giants when we rely on God to take care of them for us and not ourselves. David faced Goliath with that prevailing strength of the Lord and it can zing the giants of our lives right in the middle of the forehead too.
   
   "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."  1 Samuel 17:45-47

Conclusion:
When giants come at us, we sometimes pick up those jagged rocks of anger, disappointment, worry, and frustration. We wind those things up in our sling and let them fly. We forget that God has already given us some powerful weapons to destroy our giants with. Just one of these smooth stones can bring the biggest giant to his knees if we just think a little bit more before going to battle.

So, what smooth stones do you have ready to sling at your giants?


Copyright ©2001-2007 Julia Bettencourt
Scripture References are from the King James Version.
www.juliabettencourt.com

Devotional Index