| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | In order for us to become overnight successes, we will |
| The story of David's victory over Goliath has inspired | | | | have to learn how to face criticism. And even if the |
| millions of "little" people to believe that, even though the | | | | people closest to us are the harshest critics, we need |
| odds were against them, they could win. It is the story | | | | to understand that the fears that have kept them from |
| of a young shepherd boy who no one had ever heard | | | | pursuing their dreams can cause them to be hard on |
| of, but who defeated a giant with a single stone from | | | | us. |
| his sling, and who rocketed to fame, fortune, and | | | | Use Your Creativity - Face The Giant |
| success. | | | | When David first announced that he would kill Goliath, |
| We might think that David was simply lucky. Maybe he | | | | he probably didn't know how he was going to do it. As |
| just happened to be at the right place at the right time. | | | | we read the story we see that he tried to wear the |
| But are there things we can we learn from David that | | | | king's armor, but realized that it would not work (1 |
| will help us do what he did? Can we learn from David's | | | | Samuel 17:38-39). |
| victory over Goliath how we can slay our own giants | | | | But something that we learn from David through this |
| and become overnight successes? | | | | incident is that it's OK to make mistakes, as long as |
| Build Your Confidence - Face The Daily Challenges | | | | we don't go too far. Once we realize something isn't |
| When the king told David that he would not be able to | | | | working, we need to change what we're doing. We |
| defeat Goliath, David answered, "Your servant has | | | | don't have to give up on our dream; we just need to |
| been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear | | | | change how we have been trying to reach it. |
| came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went | | | | We will need to be creative and use our strengths if |
| after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. | | | | we want to become overnight successes. The king's |
| When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it | | | | armor would have been fine for the king, but not for |
| and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and | | | | David. Instead, David looked at his experience and skills, |
| the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of | | | | trusted in God, and found a solution to his gigantic |
| them, because he has defied the armies of the living | | | | problem by using his sling. |
| God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of | | | | Prepare For The Long Haul - Face The Facts |
| the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from | | | | I once heard about an interview with a famous rock |
| the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:34-37) | | | | musician who had catapulted to success after |
| David's confidence that he could defeat Goliath came | | | | releasing a live album. The interviewer asked, "What |
| from having overcome similar challenges while simply | | | | was it like to become an overnight success?" The |
| working for his father. Because David had learned to | | | | rock musician replied, "For me it was carrying my |
| trust God in his day-to-day life, just doing his job, he | | | | equipment in and out of dingy, smoke-filled bars, night |
| had developed the faith to overcome any problem. | | | | after night for fifteen years, until we released that |
| Becoming an overnight success requires that we have | | | | album." |
| confidence when our big opportunity comes. That | | | | David's goal was to become the king of Israel. His |
| confidence is built over time as we learn to trust God | | | | victory over Goliath played a major role in helping him |
| and overcome our daily challenges. | | | | accomplish that goal. But defeating Goliath was not all |
| Don't Give Up - Face The Criticism | | | | that he had to do. |
| In 1 Samuel 17:28 it says, "When Eliab, David's oldest | | | | Many people have big dreams for their lives, but few |
| brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned | | | | of them see those dreams become a reality. The time |
| with anger at him and asked, 'Why have you come | | | | and effort that it takes to overcome the problems and |
| down here? And with whom did you leave those few | | | | obstacles that every successful person must face, the |
| sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are | | | | Goliaths that they have to defeat, seem to be too |
| and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to | | | | great. |
| watch the battle.'" | | | | Everyone who wants to be successful will have to |
| When we realize that Eliab had just spent forty days | | | | build their confidence, stand firm in the face of criticism, |
| being afraid of Goliath, it's easy to understand why he | | | | find ways to use their strengths, and commit to |
| got so upset when his little brother said, "I'll kill him." Eliab | | | | reaching their dreams no matter how long it takes. |
| was embarrassed that David had more faith and | | | | Because the simple truth is, it takes a long time to |
| courage than he did, and it was Eliab's doubt and fear | | | | become an overnight success. |
| that made him so angry with David. | | | | |