“On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.”
I remember a time when I needed to walk into a pitch black room in our house to grab something as a kid. I had been in that room before countless times. I knew what was in there so well that I could even draw you a map of it. With the lights off, the room didn’t changed but a fear of the dark surrounded me and my knowledge of the room like a dark blanket. Instead of feeling confident, I immediately became afraid. Afraid of what? The room did not change, it was me that was stricken with fear.
As Goliath stood in the valley taunting the Israelites for 40 days, I cannot help but think of me and the dark room. The Philistines had been a thorn in the side of Israel a long time. They had just seen how the Lord works by defeating the Philistines when Jonathan led an attack on a Philistine outpost. Same people, same animosity, same hatred , and most of all same God. The same God that had delivered them countless times in the past with overwhelming odds. You would think they would remember how the Lord had delivered them but in this case, Saul and the army of Israelites were dismayed and terrified of one man, Goliath. So this theater of war was not a new thing for them at all, much like me and that dark room, the only difference was fear.
I bet they already had a plan of attack and thought about how it would play out. But then Goliath steps out and changes everything. Instead of the normal way to fight this battle, he bellows out a challenge that changes the rules. Just like the room, nothing changed, only the lights went out. Goliath was the darkness to this theater of war for the Israelites.
This darkness, Goliath, taunted God’s people for 40 days and still no movement. I remember pausing before I entered that dark room and even though it probably was a short pause, it felt like a long one because I was afraid. Suddenly, all of the bravado I had before was nowhere to be found. I was about to enter a dark room and the darkness struck me with fear. Goliath was only a man, but the shear size of him struck the entire army of God with fear.
Satan loves to change the rules and when he does, here comes the fear. You must remember a promise found in 2 Timothy 1:7, it says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].”
You may be facing a Goliath today. The theater of life does not look any different than before, the only thing is that someone turned the lights out and now you have to face your Goliath. Identifying the Goliath’s in your life is only half the battle. You may feel like that is all you ever do, identifying the fear, and being afraid has become normal. We will see how God shows up in this story in the days to come but as for now lean on what it says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Make below your prayer today. Satan may turn the lights off but the Lord promises that a lamp will be at your feet guiding you when you acknowledge Him in all your ways.
Prayer: Father, help me to see that we wrestle not against people and feelings but against principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places. This issue I am having has been blinding me to your love and grace and power. Help me to overcome through the blood of the lamb and word of my testimony. God help me to recognize the weapon I have in my Bible and how to use it when I am faced with fear that the enemy puts upon me. I claim that I am more than an overcomer through Christ who strengthens me and I have the same power that raised Christ from the dead inside of me in your Holy Spirit. The battle belongs to you oh Lord and may I rest in your power and might in Jesus name. Amen.
Let It Go 
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