Many years ago I woke from a powerful dream. In the dream I was walking towards a giant with no fear, praying at full pelt for this giant to be taken down. Ever since, this dream has been burned into my memory as a picture of fiery courage and authority.
Taunts of the giant
In 1 Samuel 17, we learn of the story of a shepherd boy David taking down the giant and champion of the Philistine army called Goliath. It’s an amazing story which we all know well. But lately I have read it and gleaned something new from this story.
Goliath taunted the Israelite army for forty days and called for a warrior to fight him. When David learnt of the giant’s daily taunts against the Israelite army, an anger and indignation rose up inside of him. In Verse Twenty Six David says ‘Who is this uncircumcised Philistine who dares to defy the armies of the Living God?’ He immediately made a decision to fight Goliath and show the power of his God. The taunt of the giant was actually the catalyst for unleashing the warrior inside David.
Sometimes we wonder why God allows super challenging circumstances to stick around for forty days or even many years. Circumstances that try and hinder us or taunt us and oppose the very promises God has made to us. We feel stretched, tired and perplexed at God’s ways sometimes. However, lately I have begun to feel a deep stirring in my spirit. Most people want to lead lives of significance. God wants us to be so deeply surrendered that He can use our lives for His eternal Kingdom. Trials included. He got the best out of so many characters in the bible through extreme hardship. What if our best comes out through pain? What if the stretching is to we can carry more of His glory?
I don’t know about you but I love to pray the prayer ‘less of me and more of you Jesus’. My stirring has been to give Jesus everything and let him use my little life to produce eternal good fruit. Like David who went on to write the psalms which have inspired countless people for many generations, I desire for my life to be a blessing to Jesus and for God to use me as a pillar in His kingdom. So perhaps the taunts and lies of the enemy have purpose as they help to bring out our true selves, that are unstoppable and on fire for Jesus, producing fruit in and out of season and with no fear of drought or storm.
Battles and strategies
My journey has been one of many battles including long term health battles. But through the trials I have grown in resilience, faith, wisdom and maturity. God has ultimately blessed me through my trials! He is transforming me into a diamond, with a tough and resilient core and all the brilliance to reflect His love into a broken world. All my pain has pushed me into a deeper intimacy with Christ and for that I am thankful. In the last three months, He has really brought out my warrior spirit like David and I am fighting back with passion against the giant of sickness for it cannot stay in my promised land. God is faithfully giving me his strategies and I am continuing to listen to his helpful instructions.
So far I have been given three instructions from the Lord for my battle against sickness which is why making time to listen to God is so important. We need His strategies! First God has said to me ‘Take communion with My word for your healing.’ Second, ‘use your tongue to speak life and healing over your body and into all situations’. Thirdly, the Lord said ‘Worship me and make room for I the King of Glory to come in to all your situations.’
Arrow scriptures
Thankfully I know that my health battles were sovereignly won that day on the cross, so I continue to stand on his word. It is for Christ’s inheritance that I will become fully healed and well and flourish as I obey God’s call for me to impact the nations for his glory. One of my arrow scriptures is Isaiah 53:5;’He was beaten so we could become whole and whipped so we could be healed.’ What are your arrow-scriptures that you are fighting your circumstances with? For we need to always go into any battle armed with God’s word. You cannot take down a giant or take over your promised land without God’s word as your weapon.
Testimony
I have had radical breakthroughs lately in other areas of long standing issues and suffering which has helped me believe for breakthroughs in my health. Long story short I used to suffer from daily anxiety and a deep grief in my heart and Yehovah has sovereignly healed me of both. With Christ’s help, I no longer have giants of fear, discouragement and disappointment towering over me in my life; they no longer hinder me as with Christ I have dismantled their power over me and taken them down.
I have come into a deep knowing of God’s love for me which has brought an inner healing and a peace and joy which has broken through into my everyday life. I no longer suffer from anxiety and God is faithfully coming through for me with more and more of His peace and breakthroughs, one area at a time.
Every area that we overcome in through prayer is an area that we gain spiritual authority over and can help others through. The battle rages for Christ to receive his full reward and inheritance. Our fulfilled promises are part of that as they expand God’s Kingdom and will impact many for His love.
Encouragement
So if I can encourage you, my advice would be this; let the King of glory in. Into your heart. Into every area of your life. Let him expand your tent for his glory. Let him continue to shape you into a vessel of honour which can hold more of him. He knows us intimately; he knows the warrior within you and He knows His good plan to use all the tough stuff to make you into a diamond. The toughest battles of your life can be the very catalyst for you to rise to your full potential and stature in Christ. It’s time to let the taunts of the enemy including the giants that are in the way of your promised land be the very inspiration to fight, rise and take back what is yours in Christ. After all, giants in perspective to God are like tiny ants, for we serve a mighty God. He has given us all authority in heaven and on earth to throw mountains into the sea. It’s time to activate your authority and take out the giants, all for God to receive the glory.
Giants we’re coming for you. It’s our land!
Liana Monaghan is a creative and passionate soul, living in coastal south Australia. Married to an artist for ten years, together they are exploring what it means to live wholeheartedly for Jesus in a community context. Liana delights in being amongst nature and loves singing, writing songs, dancing and spending time in prayer. She works as a nanny. Liana and Justin are part of the Tree of Life Church community.
Liana is a passionate and creative soul, living in South Australia and married to her artist husband of 12 years, Justin. Liana is an early childhood educator and also writes, sings, occasionally dances, loves nature, is a psalmist and runs a women's ministry.
