"Don't Receive What You Hear"

"And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them." 1 Samuel 17:23

There was a war going on between the Israelites and the Philistines. For forty days Goliath would stand before the Israelite army and threaten them. King Saul and the soldiers would shrink back in fear each time his threats came. None of them would go out and fight him- they were all too afraid. One day while David was there Goliath came out and made his threats again. David's response was different than that of the other Israelites. While they were all fearful at hearing his words, David was not. Instead, he wanted to go out and fight him.

Here we have two different reactions to Goliath's threats- David's and the Israelite army. David acted with courage and trust in the Lord. The Israelite army acted in fear and unbelief. They both heard the same words. They both heard the same threats. They both heard the taunts and accusations of the enemy, yet, their reaction was different. Why? What made the difference?

The difference was- David did not receive the giant's words, the soldiers did. They listened and believed them, therefore, they were afraid. Fear would not let them go out to fight him and so they hid in the bushes. David heard what he said also but he did not receive it. He did not take his words to heart. He did not believe them. Instead he believed God's words and placed them above the words of Goliath.

There are many voices out there. The enemy has one and he will use it to speak to you. He speaks words of fear, accusation, condemnation, doubt and confusion. But his words only effect us if we receive them by believing them. And if we believe them, they will cause us to react the same way the army did-- in defeat.

When the enemy "speaks" to you, you may hear what he says, David did, but don't accept what he is saying. Reject it. Turn your attention to what God says instead. Listen to God's word and your reaction will be like David's- "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." (verses 45,46)-- one of victory!

Have a great day. You may hear what the enemy is saying, but don't receive it.