It was during the third year of the drought, that God told Elijah to go and present himself to King Ahab. Elijah told Ahab to summon all of Israel along with the 450 prophets of Baal and to join him on Mt. Carmel.Ahab did just as Elijah requested. Elijah stood before all of Israel and the prophets of Baal and made this proclamation — “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow Him!”

Elijah then turned his attention to the prophets of Baal and challenged them to a contest.They were to erect an altar to thier god. Two bulls were brought and the prophets of Baal chose which on they wanted and cut it into pieces and laid on the altar as a sacrifice to Baal. They were instructed to cry out to their god and ask him to send down fire to burn up the sacrifice. Elijah would do the same. Whichever God answered by fire would indeed be the true God.

The prophets of Baal went first. They cried out, and called on their god from morning until noon. Yet, there was no response. So, they cried louder and harder, even cutting themselves with knives and swords, trying desperately to get the attention of their so-called god.

Finally, Elijah had endured enough of their pointless ramblings and told Israel to pay attention. Elijah took twelve stones, erected himself an altar, laid the sacrifice on it, and then had them bring four huge containers of water and pour it all over the wood, the sacrifice and the altar. There was so much water that it even filled up the trench dug around the altar.

Then, as all Israel watched, and in the presence of all his enemies, Elijah prayed, asking God to show Himself as Lord. Immediately, fire fell from heaven burning up not only the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar itsef and even licked up all the water in the trough.

God had showed up, just as Elijah had asked. At this point, Israel was pumped up and on the instructions of Elijah, killed all the prophets of Baal. Elijah had listened to the voice of the Lord. Elijah had obeyed that voice. Elijah had declared God’s word unashamedly and without reservations. He trusted God to do what God had said He would do.And God honored His word. He showed up with majesty and power.

When we choose to take the time to listen to God, He will speak. Oftentimes, we are to wrapped up in ourselves to hear Him. But in those times that we do take the time to listen, we need to obey what He says to do. There are so many times we know what we are supposed to do. We know that God has spoken to us and given us specific instructions, yet we do not heed them. We choose to go our own way, do our own thing and then end up in a bad place, miserable and discontent. Down and defeated.

Well, it is time that we make some decisions. How long are we going to live defeated? How long are we not going to obey and serve the God of Elijah. If the Lord is God, then Follow Him! As long as we are not listening, and not obeying, we will not be victorious. It is time, as  children of God, to seek Him, to hear Him and to heed Him.

We must stand up and declare Him Lord in whatever situations we are facing. Stand up in the presence of our families, our friends and even our enemies and procalim God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we give our problems, our doubts, our sins, our shortcomings, our insecurities, our worries, and our fears to God — He will send down His fire from heaven and burn them away. He will lift us up even in the presence of our enemies and strengthen us and bless us.

It is time we know that God is bigger than anything we might be facing. He is Lord of all. There is nothing He cannot do and won’t do if we will only surrender to His will. So, let’s do it. Let’s call out to the God of Elijah. Lift up His Holy name, declare Him God, and let His fire reign down in our lives. The Lord is God, so Follow Him!!!

The Israelite army had been fighting against their enemies, the Philistines, and were camped opposite them with a valley in between. All of a sudden, out of the clear blue, this giant dude shows up. He was over nine feet tall, majorly buff and had an attitude that matched. He at once began to bully Israel, challenging them and defying their God.

Goliath challenged one of Israel’s soldiers to come and fight him. If they won, then the Philistines would be Israel’s slaves, but if they lost, and  if this giant troublemaker won, then Israel would be enslaved to the enemy.

For forty days, morning and night, the giant came out and challenged God’s people. And for forty days, no progress was made. Gloom and despair loomed overhead. Depression and fear engulfed the camp. No one dared to take the giant up on his challenge. That is, until one day a young shepherd boy showed up.

David had just arrived at the camp when the Israelites lined up as usual to face the Philistines. And, as usual, out came Goliath. Once again, he mocked and jeered, bullied and sneered, and once again, the Israelite soldiers cowered and feared and ran away. David, was appalled. He could not understand why or how Israel could allow one man to stand in the way of their victory over the enemy.

David’s brothers quickly informed the young, innocent, and what they considered to be ignorant boy to mind his business. Didn’t he note the size of the guy? Didn’t he see his huge sword? Didn’t he see the massive armor and hear the daunting message from the booming voice of this massive enemy? Just what part of the whole situation was David not getting?

But, in reality, David did get it. He looked beyond the giant and saw God. He knew Who he believed in and no matter how big, how scary, how mean, how massive, the enemy was, God was bigger. David focused on what we oftentimes,  fail to see. He focused on the solution to the problem, rather than on the problem itself. He trusted God. Pure and simple. He didn’t doubt. He didn’t second guess. He just flat out trusted and believed God’s word over the word of the enemy.

So, David without any hesitation announced loud and long that he would face the enemy and would defeat him. Upon hearing David’s proclamation, King Saul, tried to dissuade the eager and what he thought to be overzealous young man. But once he realized that David was determined, Saul then tried to help him out. He urged David to take his armor, his weaponry. He tried to get David to do things his way.

But, David wasn’t comfortable with King Saul’s methods. He listened to the advice and then rather than trusting the words and ways of man, surrendered to the higher ways of God. He knew God’s way for His life. He knew God wouldn’t leave Him. He trusted the One Who had never let him down against obstacles and giants in the past and that is exactly what he chose to do in facing this giant.

So, David went out. He faced Goliath head own. No reservations. No turning back. No doubts. No worries. He had God. He declared to the enemy that he was not afraid. He lifted up the name of God above the giant blocking his victory. And though the giant roared. Though he showed his ugliness. Though he puffed himself up bigger and bigger. David didn’t waver. He took what God had given him, his talents, and his abilities, and stepped out in faith. Then with the twirling of a leather strap, and the hurling of a little stone, the giant went tumbling down. And when that bully went down, the rest of the enemies scattered.

You see, it was God’s will that Israel defeated the Philistines. David knew that, and Goliath was standing in the way of God’s will. Goliath represents anything that is standing in the way of God’s will for your life. What kind of Goliaths are you facing right now? Are you fearful? Are you depressed? Is there a giant problem standing right smack in the way and keeping you from what you know God wants for your life?

Then you need to know a few things. First of all, God is bigger than anything you face. Quit worrying and listening to the voice of the enemy. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He  who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (John 4:4 NKJV). So realize that! Take hold of it and let the Spirit of the living God come alive inside of you. Let God arise in you and your enemies will scatter.(Psalm 68:1)

Secondly, you need to realize something else. You need to realize that God has given you everything you need to face any challenge, any obstacle, any giant that comes against you. He has equipped you with certain talents and abilities that He fully intends and expects you to use. Perhaps you are struggling right now with some areas in your life, because you are using methods and ways other than the ones God has purposed for you to use. You need to use what God gave you, no matter what others may tell you. David could not use the things that were unfamiliar to him. He had to trust God with what God had given him. The same applies to you.

The last thing I want to point out is that you need to put your trust in the God of David. He is the giant slayer. He is the One who will go before you and bring down every opposing force that stands between you and His purpose for your life, that is, IF you declare Him Lord over your life. When David saw the enemy. When he heard his bullying remarks, when he heard Goliath mock his God and challenge his faith, he reacted. He stood his ground. He let the Spirit of the God that he had loved and trusted, the One who had carried him through his darkest nights, the One who had never once failed Him, rise up inside him. Then he proclaimed to those around him and to the enemy facing him that God was bigger. David declared the victory before he ever stepped foot on the battlefield. He had made up his mind that God was bigger and that the giant was going down. He didn’t doubt. He wasn’t ashamed. He didn’t care if his friends and family thought he was insane. He put his faith above all else and because of that, Goliath fell.

It’s time you do the same. It’s time to step out in faith. Trust in the God who loves you, who knows what is best for you, and declare His victory over the giants you are facing. And know this, once you declare Him Lord over that situation, that problem, that circumstance, then God will bring your giants down!

The Bible warns in Psalm 118:8 that “It is better to trust the Lord than to trust people.”(NCV) When you put your trust in people, they oftentimes will fail you. However, when you put your trust in the One who created you, who knows you and who cares about, you can totally depend on Him. He will NEVER let you down.

The Bible also tells us in Proverbs 18:24 that there is a friend that sticks closer to you than a brother. That friend is Jesus. He is the very lover of your soul. He loved you so much that He willing came down from His glorious throne in heaven to live and then die so that we might live again with Him. He now is in heaven interceding before God the Father on your and my behalf. Now, that’s someone that you can really trust.

If you have a need, Jesus says that all you must do is “Ask, and it will be given to you.”(Matthew 7:7) But, there is a stipulation on the matter. When you ask, you must trust God to do what you ask. This is noted in Matthew 21:22. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”(NKJV)

Sometimes it is not easy to trust God. When things seem to be going wrong, when people let you down, when you’re hurting, when your finances are not good, when you or someone you love is sick, or when various trials and problems come your way, it can be difficult to trust God to take care of things. But in order to get through this life here on earth, we must trust God. We must have faith in the One who knows all and who wants to take care of our every need.

So, what can we do increase our faith so that we can trust Him? Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If you are having problems trusting God, you need to read His Word. Everyday, you need to read God’s Word, the Bible, and learn more about Him, about His character. Then you will start to trust Him more.

When you first meet someone, you don’t know them. You have to spend time with them. Get to know them by talking to them, listening to them. Then you will know whether or not they are genuine, if you can trust them. The same method applies with God. In order to trust Him, you have to spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Read His Word. Listen to what He has to say. Then your faith will grow. Then you can believe. Then you can ask. Then you can receive.

As human beings, we are always depending on our limited knowledge. But the Bible tells us clearly not to depend or lean own that finite understanding. We need to trust in God’s infinite knowledge and understanding. Don’t try to figure things out and go your own way. Instead, put your trust in the One who knows best. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you unconditionally. He is a 24/7, on time, all the time, God, Who cares about everything you do and everything you are going through.

Sometimes it is so hard to trust God. That is because we limit Him to the way we think. But Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts nor are His ways like our ways. He does not operate nor think with limitations. All things are possible with Him (Matthew 19:26). Things that may seem, and quite literally may be impossible for us, but there is nothing that God cannot do.

That is why Solomon with all of his wisdom, told us to “Trust in the Lord with all of our heart.” He knew that we would not be able to see our way through difficulties, problems, troubles, trials without the direction of our heavenly Father. He also knew that when we do rely on our own vices, we make things worse and we miss out on so many blessings.

For after Solomon told us to trust the Lord and not lean own what we know, he then told us to be sure and acknowledge God. Proverbs 3:6 says “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” We need to make a conscious effort to tell God that we need Him. Acknowledge that He is the One who can make things right. Then the Bible says that He will direct our paths.

If we will trust God, and not ourselves, and acknowledge Him, then He will give us the guidance we need to help us. He will help us to see clearly and speak directly to us and lead us in the way we need to go. So trust Him. He will never let you down.

Let’s examine the words of this well known verse. Let’s start with the word faith. Just what is faith? According to the dictionary (at least the top two entries), faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing. It is also defined as belief that is not based on proof. Now if we combine these two definitions we can surmise the following statement. Faith is believing in someone that we cannot see and trusting in that someone without reservations.

To have faith in God then, we must first believe in Him, although we cannot see Him. As Hebrews 11:6 states,”he who comes to God must believe that He is”… In other words we must believe that He exists, even though we cannot see Him. This is the first and most important part of faith. Once you believe in the Who, then you can trust that He will do!

Now that we have determined exactly what faith is, let’s look at the rest of Hebrews 11:1.It tells us “Faith is the substance”. Substance is what a thing consists of, the actual matter of a thing, and we learned in elementary school that matter is anything that has weight or takes up space. So faith is actually what gives weight or actuality to something.

Faith is the substance of what? It is the substance of things hoped for. Faith is what makes up what we hope for. And what does hope actually mean? Hope is the feeling that we can actually get what we wish we had or that events or circumstances will turn out for the best. So, faith then is the actual matter, the consistency, or what gives weight to what we wish we could have or have happen.

Now let’s look at the final part of Hebrews 11:1. The last part of the verse tells us that faith “is the evidence of things not seen.” Evidence, we all know is proof. Faith is the proof of the things we cannot see. It is our assurance that though our eyes do not behold it, it is a reality.

So let’s put it all together and see what it all means. Faith or trust in God is what gives weight, realness or credibility to what we wish we had. It is our proof of things that we cannot see with our physical eyes.

So don’t doubt. Have hope. Trust in God. Have faith. It is your assurance that things will turn out for good. If you can trust God and hope for the best, then you can have the things you cannot see.