Tuesday, May 18, 2010

May 18, 2010

"Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken." I Samuel 17:8-10
Every obstacle presents an opportunity, doesn't it?
In this case we could say it was a "giant" opportunity. Goliath set up a winner take all situation where one men could fight him in stead of two armies going to battle.
Obviously, Goliath knew the odds were in his favor. He was bigger and stronger and meaner than anyone on the other side. Whoever would dare to take him on would not only have the difficult task of defeating the giant but he would have the pressure of deciding the fate of all his fellow troops. A big decision, no doubt.
I have been where the Israeli army was and maybe you have been, too. They were just one hard decision away from victory. Their unwillingness to make the hard decision was keeping them discouraged and feeling defeated. It wasn't that they didn't know what they needed to do it was that they didn't want to make the decision.
What can we learn from this situation that might help us make the hard decisions?
Two things:
You have to have a cause greater than your concerns and a courage stronger than your cautions. How does that happen?
Take charge over what you look at and what you hear. It's about the view you see and the voice you listen to. Twice a day they were focusing on the giant and listening to his taunts. Predictably, that overwhelmed them.
David walked into camp fresh off of victories over a lion and a bear. His view was focused on God and that is the voice he was hearing. Therefore, his decision was easy to make. He took the challenge and welcomed the pressure. From his point of view it was a done deal. His attitude was that this was God's battle not his. He was right.
Big decisions need to be God decisions. God brings giant challenges before us to cause us to depend on Him. God puts a giant opportunity on the backside of every giant challenge. When we step out He steps up.
David was able to make the hard decision because of the view he had and the voice he listened to. His view was faith and the voice was God's.
You may be just one hard decision away from a great victory. If you are struggling to make the hard decision check the view you are looking at and the voice you are listening to.