Facing Giants

My cousin gave us the movie "Facing The Giants" as a gift for Christmas. We had actually rented it when it first came out on DVD, but I was not in the frame of mind at that time to watch it and absorb it for the real message it was sending. We watched it again on Sunday night and I realize now why I was having such a hard time.

Looking back, I was facing more than one giant in my life and quite frankly was ready to give up. I knew God, acknowledged God, but did not have a personal relationship with the Lord. Did I forget to mention that I was a bit of a control freak? I had a really hard time giving up control of my circumstances to God...that is until I almost lost everything I loved and held so dearly. Sometimes you have to be at your breaking point to realize who's in control. I had to surrender it all. C.S. Lewis said, "Pain is God's megaphone." This is his way of waking us up from spiritual slumber if you will. I needed a wake up call.

Our Pastor put it beautifully at our Christmas Eve service when he said and I'm paraphrasing, "You can have a close encounter with God but miss the personal experience." My cousin that I mentioned earlier, she and her husband lost their only son 8 years ago in an automobile accident. A personal relationship with the Lord has given them the strength they've needed when they didn't have it on their own. Will was in college and planning to be a minister. God has helped them face this giant day in and day out. He can help you face yours too.

I urge you beginning now and into 2009, to turn your giants over to God. Surrender it all to him and lay it at His feet. If you are suffering from bitterness, anger, depression, facing divorce, addiction, an eating disorder, financial struggles...whatever your giant may be..give it to God. Let Him fight for you.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Embrace Life,
Ginger