Ignore The Reports

Ignore the Reports

For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army. 1 Samuel 17:16

THE STORY OF GOLIATH goes into a lot of detail about his apparent invincibility. Long before the chapter ever mentions God, and even before it mentions David visiting the front lines, we read of Goliath’s size, the weight and materials of his armor, the enormity of his weapon, his relentless taunts, and the fear and dread of Israel’s warriors as the imposing enemy shouted, strutted, and dared them to respond. God’s people were terrified and paralyzed. All they could see was the near certainty of defeat.

Our prayers often face such obstacles that mock us every time we pray—not giants with swords and spears, but mountains that just won’t move, enormous odds stacked against us, unwanted situations that seem inevitable. We hear taunts and reports from the enemy camp: Your prayers aren’t going to be answered. This situation is too big. Obviously nothing is going to change. You are powerless against this enemy. And on and on. Just as God is not mentioned in the story of Goliath until David finally brings him up, God seems irrelevant to our situation until we come to our senses and faith kicks in. We have to be reminded that faith is the assurance of things not seen, not the validation of what is already in plain sight.

In your life of faith, you need to learn to ignore reports from the enemy camp. Listening to those reports to see if God is accomplishing what he has promised honors the visible evidence more than the promise. It refocuses your vision, moving it from the faithfulness of God to the tyranny of circumstances, which is always discouraging. If God has assured you of an answer to prayer, no negative turn of events, no disappointing words, and no defiance from those involved have anything to do with the answer. Only what God has said matters. The taunts of the enemy, the obstacle, the adversity, and your own inner doubts are not the final authority. God is, and he is faithful to keep his word.

Are we not bound to exercise the utmost confidence, and have a felt and strong assurance of mind, that what is promised shall come to pass?