David King of Israel - Facing your giants : a David and Goliath story for everyday people

2006 Max Lucado

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc. titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Other Scripture references are from the following sources:

The American Standard Version (ASV). Gods Word (Gods Word) is a copyrighted work of Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved. The Good News Bible: The Bible in Todays English Version (TEV) copyright 1992 by the American Bible Society. The King James Version of the Bible (KJV). The Living Bible (TLB), copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill. Used by permission. The Message (MSG), copyright 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. New American Standard Bible (NASB), 1960, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. The New Century Version (NCV), 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. J. B. Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition (PHILLIPS). Copyright J. B. Phillips 1958, 1960, 1972. Used by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lucado, Max.

Facing your giants / Max Lucado.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8499-0181-2

ISBN 978-0-8499-9149-3 (International Edition)

ISBN 978-0-8811-3350-9 (Spanish Edition)

1. David, King of Israel. 2. Goliath (Biblical giant) 3. Christian life. 4. Spirituality. I. Title.

BS580.D3L83 2006

222'.4092dc22

2006019176

Printed in the United States of America

07 08 09 10 11 RRD 8 7 6 5 4

Denalyn and I gladly dedicate this volume to
Rod and Tina Chisholm
faithful, dependable, and joyful servants.

We thank God for more than two decades of friendship.

ALSO BY MAX LUCADO

INSPIRATIONAL

A Gentle Thunder

A Love Worth Giving

And the Angels Were Silent

Come Thirsty

Cure for the Common Life

God Came Near

He Chose the Nails

He Still Moves Stones

In the Eye of the Storm

In the Grip of Grace

Its Not about Me

Just Like Jesus

Next Door Savior

No Wonder They Call Him the Savior

On the Anvil

Six Hours One Friday

The Applause of Heaven

The Great House of God

Traveling Light

When Christ Comes

When God Whispers Your Name

CHILDRENS BOOKS

A Hat for Ivan

Alabasters Song

All You Ever Need

Because I Love You

Best of All

He Chose You

Hermie, a Common Caterpillar

If Only I Had a Green Nose

Jacobs Gift

Just in Case You Ever Wonder

Just Like Jesus (for teens)

Just the Way You Are

Next Door Savior (for teens)

Punchinello and the Most Marvelous Gift

Small Gifts in Gods Hands

Stanley the Stinkbag

Tell Me the Secrets

Tell Me the StoryThe Crippled Lamb

The Way Home

With You All the WayYou Are Mine

You Are SpecialYour Special Gift

GIFT BOOKS

A Heart Like Jesus

Everyday Blessings

For These Tough TimesGods Mirror

Gods Promises for You

God Thinks Youre Wonderful

Grace for the Moment, Vol. I & II

Grace for the Moment Journal

In the BeginningJust for You

Just Like Jesus DevotionalLet the Journey Begin

Mocha with Max

One Incredible MomentSafe in the Shepherds Arms

Shaped by GodThe Cross

The Gift for All People

The Greatest MomentsTraveling Light for Mothers

Turn

FICTION

An Angels StoryThe Christmas Candle

The Christmas Child

BIBLES (GENERAL EDITOR)

He Did This Just for You (New Testament)

The Devotional Bible

Grace for the Moment Daily Bible

CONTENTS

The list of people who midwifed this book is long. Each deserves a standing ovation and early retirement.

Editors Liz Heaney and Karen Hill. When it comes to prompting thick-headed authors, you wrote the book.

Steve and Cheryl Green. If the country had overseers like you, wed all sleep better. Thank you for your million and one acts of service.

David Moberg and the W team. The highest standard of publishing.

Susan Ligon. Your devotion to detail is exceeded only by your devotion to Christ. Im grateful.

Sam Moore, Mike Hyatt, and the Thomas Nelson family. If a better team exists, Ive not seen it.

The Oak Hills ministers, staff, and elders. May you continue to be a home for every heart.

The UpWords family of Becky, Margaret, and Tina. What gifts you have and gifts you are!

Eugene Peterson. Each reading of your books touches me. LeapOver a Wall changed me. Where my words sound too much like yours, forgive meyou get the credit.

Carol Bartley. Scotland Yard should have such a sleuth. I stand in awe of your editorial skills.

Steve Halliday. Thanks for another insightful Study Guide.

David Treat. Your prayers winged these words to heaven.

My three daughters, Jenna, Andrea, and Sara. Every day more beautiful. Every day more godly.

And to Denalyn. If theres a law limiting a husbands love for his wife, youll have to visit me in prison. After twenty-five years, Im still starstruck by you.

As Goliath moved closer to attack,
David quickly ran out to meet him.

1 Samuel 17:48 (NLT)

THE SLENDER, beardless boy kneels by the brook. Mud moistens his knees. Bubbling water cools his hand. Were he to T notice, he could study his handsome features in the water. Hair the color of copper. Tanned, sanguine skin and eyes that steal the breath of Hebrew maidens. He searches not for his reflection, however, but for rocks. Stones. Smooth stones. The kind that stack neatly in a shepherds pouch, rest flush against a shepherds leather sling. Flat rocks that balance heavy on the palm and missile with comet-crashing force into the head of a lion, a bear, or, in this case, a giant.