Intimidating Words

1.         Our perception of words

Every adult was once a child.  Every child would have been familiar with intimidating words that frighten them, make them feel inferior or force them to do what they don’t want to do.  Technically, words are merely sounds that travel through the air and reach the ears.  Yet these vibrations of air can have such intimidating effects on the person hearing it.  Therefore, it is not the words that intimidate.  Rather, it is our perception of the words that intimidate us.  Manage our thoughts and we will manage our intimidation.

2.         Example from Goliath

In 1 Samuel 17, we  see how intimidating words can put fear into the hearts of battle hardened soldiers.  It tells the story of Goliath defying the armies of Israel who were intimidated by his words (verses 8 – 11).  For forty days, Goliath came forward every morning and evening to repeatedly shout intimidating words (verse 16, 23) and defy the armies of Israel.  His fearsome personality and intimidating words struck fear in the Israelite army.

3.         You are your greatest enemy

Do you have someone whom you fear because of his or her intimidating words?  Do you still hear the words even though the person is not around?  Like Goliath, has this person been repeating the intimidating words or have you been repeating the intimidating words to yourself?  Sometimes, you are your greatest enemy.  You keep rehearsing the intimidating words in your own heart.  Your constant repetition of the words make you fearful.

4.         A godly perspective

 David, on the other hand, was not subject to the 40 days of intimidating words shouted by Goliath.  He had a fresh perspective because he had come from the shepherd fields where he had always spent time singing, meditating and simply enjoying His Lord.  He was not intimidated by Goliath because he compared Goliath’s shouting with God’s truths.  That was why David could say, “Who is that uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?”  The frightened soldiers saw themselves as the army of Israel.  David had a godly perspective.  He saw them as the army of the living God.

Goliath cursed David and taunted him, “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?”  David was not intimidated.  He always had God’s perspective on every issue.  He said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel whom you defied” (verse 45).  The story continued and we were told that David brought down Goliath with one sling shot.

5.         The battle is won first in your mind

While many of us remember that famous sling shot that brought Goliath down and confirmed the victory of the battle for Israel, we forget that the battle was won before the sling shot.  The battle was won first in the mind when David saw that God will always help him and be with him in all situations.

What about you?  Are you hearing the intimidating words  over and over again?  Have a godly perspective.  The battle is won first in your mind when you repeat God’s truths against the intimidating words.  God says to you, “Be strong and of good courage, be not frightened neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).  Repeat this godly truth each time you hear the intimidating words.  The Holy Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16) and nothing can ever overcome you (Jeremiah 1:19).