For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love and a sound mind. 1 Timothy 1:7 

Let’s talk about fear. Throughout the Bible we see God repeatedly telling his people, “Do not fear.” We see it over and over. Why? Because fear is a killer of faith. Fear will stop you from moving forward. We are afraid of many things. Fear is a tormenter. Fear is from the devil. Where I live, I see people afraid of each other, afraid to even do the right thing, afraid of what the neighbors might think This must change.

I remember when I was first saved and filled with God’s Spirit, fear was one of the first things God began to “cure” in my life. I was afraid of many things. But through relationship with Him and worship, I overcame fear and you can too, but you will need to worship the One who can deliver you from it. And when I say worship, I’m not talking about southern gospel music. I’m talking about Spirit-led, Spirit-filled worship of your King….songs TO Him, not about Him. Testimonies are wonderful and uplifting and impart faith, but songs TO Him are different. It is communing directly with Him. You are speaking to Him; you are singing to Him, declaring to Him your love and adoration.

King David, as a young lad, discovered this secret too, I believe that is why he became fearless. Before he fought the giant Philistine Goliath, we find in the scriptures that he spent much of his time out in the hills tending his father’s sheep. We later see that David was skilled at playing the harp and was brought into the king to play because the king had a tormenting spirit. David’s music caused the tormenting spirit to leave the king.Worship will cause your tormenting spirits to leave too.

Putting two and two together, one can deduce that David learned some things while he was out in the hills tending the sheep. He most likely played the harp or some kind of stringed instrument. He most likely worshipped God, as it was said he had a heart after God. It is recorded that he killed a lion and bear that came after the sheep. That took some courage. David didn’t have a gun. He probably had perhaps a spear and a staff for tending the sheep and probably a knife. Would you take on a lion or a bear?

So how do we think David got the courage to take on the lion and the bear? He was a young boy, a teenager. I would maintain that David overcame fear by worshiping God. And that is how we can overcome fear…through worshiping God. Worship gives one courage.

When David went to take food to his brothers who were in the army of Saul, he had already learned how to take on formidable foes with courage. At the same time, David obviously knew he had a covenant with God and understood some things.Through worship and relationship with God, he developed courage and confidence in his relationship with his Creator and understood the covenant God had given to the Hebrew people. He had confidence in God’s promises and that is the only reason he could face down an almost nine foot giant with the courage that he did. Apparently the armies of Israel had no such confidence because they were cowering in the face of the giant, who had brothers of the same size.

But we see this teenager, David, full of faith and confidence who obviously knew his identity in God because it is recorded he said to the giant, “You come to us with the sword and a spear, but we come to you in the name of our God.” David had previously said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David showed understanding of the covenant Israel had with God.

Apparently, David wasn’t looking at Goliath’s height or weight. David took one of the weapons he had been practicing with while he was out in the hills with the sheep. He had probably practiced a lot with that slingshot. Perhaps he hit the bear between the eyes first and then killed him, and did the same with the lion. I can see that being his strategy all along. God prepares you for what is coming in the future. He will give you strategy and winning ideas.

And so we see young David taking down the giant while the armed men cowed in the corner. He used the slingshot to bring the giant down, then ran over and took the giant’s sword to cut his head off with. It was truly a miraculous feat of courage which qualified him as a future leader of Israel.

Pray with me: Jesus, I want to be fearless like You and David. Fear has held me back and I no longer want it in my life, hindering me from Your best. Show me how to worship You better so that I can face each day and each task You give me with courage and faith. I do want to fulfill Your will for my life so that I can hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I see You face to face.