What’s in your hands today?  I’ve been thinking the last couple of days about the story of David and Goliath.  It’s a powerful story that I’ve heard from a young age, but lately something within that story has been echoing in my mind.

I follow the lives and ministries of most of the well known young preachers and teachers in the church world today.  Men and women who are having an extremely powerful impact on the church in a supernatural way.  Often my admiration drifts to desires to build my own ministry in the shape of these leaders that I look to for inspiration and borders on believing that I have to fit a certain mold to be used by God.

David was a ruddy little boy that really was not much to look at and most people would have looked right past him in searching for a leader (including the prophet Samuel).  He was a shepherd; Nothing more and nothing less.  He was not looking to be a great leader, he was simply being faithful in handling his responsibilities.  David would eventually become King, but first he had to face his Giant!

I want to share with you three leadership principles that I see in the story of David and Goliath!

1.  Consistency is paramount.
Being consistent doesn’t mean you wont fail, it just means you’ll keep getting up.  David went to the pastures day after day, tending the same boring sheep every single day.  He didn’t waiver in the little things.  And in those times where he could have been sleeping on the job, he was practicing with his slingshot, honing his gift.  He was preparing for his future obstacle in his current situation.  Be faithful in the small things, be consistent.  Consistency will bring about an opportunity for greatness before you know it.

2.  You can’t be confident in yourself when you’re trying to be someone else.
One of the greatest tragedies in the world happens when people try so hard to be someone else that they lose themselves.  The beauty of people is that every single one of us is uniquely different.  David could not use Saul’s armor.  It was sufficient, but it didn’t fit him.  God had already graced David with specific giftings that would bring him victory.  God is waiting for us to put down the characteristics and giftings that we are trying to make fit, and to walk in the giftings and callings he has already placed on our lives!  Be you and see the glory of God revealed in your life!

3.  Don’t let the fear of others drown your faith.
Fear is a crippling thing that will rob you of the chance to rise to another level.  There was a whole army of scared men that wouldn’t step out on the battlefield to face Goliath.  Trained seasoned men that should have been more than capable of handling the situation.  But God loves using situations that seem impossible to raise up leaders and do something supernatural through their faith!  David seized the moment, He put His faith in God and He broke every pre-disposed notion of what should’ve happened when he stepped on the battlefield.

So what is in your hands today?  What has God gifted you with that you think has no value?  What opportunities for greatness are lurking just around the corner if you will simply trust God and be who He’s called you to be?  At the end of day God wasn’t looking for another army of soldiers, or another king with a sword and a shield, He was looking for a young shepherd boy that would simply believe that the same God that had brought him through before would do it again!