The battle isn’t over till it is over. We need to finish strong. We need to persevere to the end. This is not always easy. The passion that comes at the beginning of a fight can wane if the fight wears on. I believe David displayed three keys that helped make his fight with Goliath, as well as many of his future battles, strong to the end.
Preparation First, David came to the battle prepared. The development of David’s heart did not start on the day he met Goliath on the battlefield. It’s foolish to believe we can fight giants without having prepared ahead of time. Instead, as the apostle Paul says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training” (1 Cor. 9:25). Just as athletes prepare for competition well in advance of the event, so we ought to prepare ourselves spiritually before we face giants. Otherwise, we won’t be ready to fight the battle when we find ourselves on the front line. When the door of opportunity opens, it’s too late to prepare.
David prepared first in the presence of God as he tended the sheep. This gave him the courage and confidence to know how to respond to the giant’s threats, seek permission from the king, and run forward to face the giant in battle. He also took time to prepare his weapons, carefully selecting smooth stones to use for his sling.
Endurance Second, David used endurance to keep fighting till the end. He modeled what it looks like to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1 NKJV). The Greek word here for endurance is more literally translated “the patience to master.” It is not a romantic ideal that gives us unending strength. It is unhurrying yet undelaying determination. Obstacles are a natural part of growth. Endurance understands the time needed to complete a task fully and is willing to engage it.
Runners call endurance the “second wind.” It’s when everything inside us is telling us to quit, but we tell our bodies not to. The ones who win are the ones who know how to push through the pain and never take their eyes off the finish line.
Reproduction Third, David knew his victory would reproduce in the lives of others. His victory was a victory for the armies of Israel, and it would shift the national perspective. His testimony would inspire courage in the hearts of the people. That is the nature of victory. It inspires those who are living in fear. When they see our victories, they will rise up in faith and also accomplish great things for God. Because they witness the defeat of a giant, they feel empowered to face their own giants, and they begin the process of becoming giant slayers.
extract from Giant Slayers by Leif Hetland