What do you think I have in this little bag? Well, let's take a look and see. Hmm... how about that... it is some rocks. Five smooth stones. Do these five smooth stones remind you of a Bible story? When I think of five smooth stones, I think of the story of David and Goliath.

I'm sure you probably know the Bible story of how a boy named David fought and killed a giant named Goliath. Now, Goliath was a mighty warrior who was more than nine feet tall! He was protected from head to toe by a suit of armor made of bronze. His armor alone weighed more than one hundred pounds and he was armed with a sword and spear.

David, on the other hand, was a young shepherd boy. He had no armor for protection. It would have been much too heavy for him to carry. And how about a sword and spear? No, David's weapon was a sling and his ammunition was five smooth stones which he picked up from a nearby stream. And yet, David was able to defeat a giant that all of the soldiers of the Israelite army were afraid to face.

You and I may never face a giant such as Goliath, but we face giants of another kind in our daily life. We face giants such as fear, insecurity, loneliness, and failure. How can we overcome those giants that want to defeat us? These five stones can help us to remember the story of how David defeated the giant he faced. They and also help us to know how we can defeat the giants which we face.

• The first stone represents COURAGE - David was not afraid to face the enemy. "Don't worry about a thing," David told Saul. "I'll go fight this Philistine!" (1 Samuel 17:32 NLT) It also takes courage to fight the giants you will face in your life.

• The second stone represents CONFIDENCE - As a shepherd, David often had to protect the sheep from wild animals. This gave him the confidence he needed to face the giant. "The LORD who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!" (1 Samuel 17:37 NLT) Like David, you can have confidence that God will help you overcome the problems you face each day.

• The third stone represents PREPARATION - David didn't go to face the giant unprepared. He went down to the stream and picked out five smooth stones and put them in his shepherd's bag. Then, armed with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started out to fight Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:40 NLT) It is important for you to do everything possible to be certain you are prepared to face the challenges which you will meet in your daily life.

• The fourth stone represents TRUST - David did not trust in his own ability to slay the giant. When Goliath shouted at David, cursed him, and was ready to kill him, David said, "You come to me with a sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the LORD God Almighty." (1 Samuel 17:45 NLT) When you face problems, put your trust in God, not in your own ability.

• The fifth stone represents VICTORY - "It is God's battle, not ours," David said. That is why David was able to win the victory over the giant with only a stone and sling. (1 Samuel 17:50 NLT) When you turn your battles over to God, you will have the victory over the giants in your life.

So, the next time you are facing a giant in your life, remember the story of David and Goliath -- and five smooth stones.

Dear Father, just as you gave David the victory in his battle with Goliath, we know that when we put our trust in you, you will give us the victory over the giants we face in our daily life. Amen.