I've been reading a wonderful book by Max Lucado called "Facing Your Giants" that is just so wonderful. It retells the story of David and talks about how we need to face our giants with the same "God Focus" that David had when he went up against Goliath. I would like to share some excerpts from the first chapter that I found to be quite thought provoking...
"How long since you loaded your sling and took a swing at your giant? Too long, you say? Then David is your model. God called him 'a man after my own heart'. One might read David's story and wonder what God saw in him. The fellow fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. He stared down Goliath, yet ogled at Bathsheba; defied God-mockers in the valley, yet joined them in the wilderness. An Eagle Scout one day. Chumming with the Mafia the next. He could lead armies, but couldn't manage a family. Raging David. Weeping David. Blood-thirsty. God-hungry. Eight wives. One God. A man after God's heart? That God saw him as such gives hope to us all. David's life has little to offer the unstained saint. Straight-A souls find David's story disappointing. The rest of us find it reassuring. We ride the same roller coaster. We alternate between swan dives and belly flops, souffles and burnt toast. In David's good moments, no one was better. In his bad moments, could one be worse? The heart God loved was a checkered one."
"Giants. We must face them. Yet we need not face them alone. Focus first, and most, on God. The times David did, giants fell. The days he didn't, David did."
After counting the number of times David references God, when he first meets up with Goliath...."I count nine references. God-thoughts outnumber Goliath-thoughts nine to two. How does this ratio compare with yours? Do you ponder God's grace four times as much as you ponder your guilt? Is your list of blessings four times as long as your list of complaints? Is your mental file of hope four times as thick as your mental file of dread? Are you four times as likely to describe the strength of God as you are the demands of your day?"
"Focus on giants--you stumble. Focus on God--your giants tumble."
"Lift your eyes, giant-slayer. The God who made a miracle out of David stands ready to make one out of you."
I love that! I love the term "giant-slayer". On my good days, I think I really do focus on God more, but on my bad days, my giant wins. I don't want any more giant winning days. I want each day to start God-focused, remain God-focused, and end God-focused.