If you ever find yourself facing a once in a lifetime opportunity that will help you fulfill your destiny here are a few lessons that you can learn from David when he faced his once in a lifetime opportunity of fighting Goliath:
King Saul said to David, "You are not able to fight against this Philistine because you are a youth and he is a man of war from his youth." (1 Samuel 17:33)Endorse Yourself
However, David endorsed himself and replied, "I used to take care of my father's sheep and when a lion or a bear stole a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it and delivered the lamb from its mouth. (1 Samuel 17:34-35)
Therefore endorse yourself and stop waiting for people to endorse you. To do this, tell people your abilities instead of just receiving their limitations because in some situations the people who are assessing you and placing limitations on you do not even know what God has been doing through you.
We can see that in the case of David, King Saul who was telling him that he could not fight Goliath did not even know who David was because he asked his commander-in-chief Abner, "Whose son is this boy?" (1 Samuel 17:55) Abner did not also know who David was or where he had come from.
Therefore endorse yourself by reminding yourself and others of what God has enabled you to do.
When David's big brother heard him inquiring about Goliath, instead of encouraging him he tried to discourage him by publicly telling him, "I know your pride and rude, disrespectful behavior (insolence)" (1 Samuel 17:28)Encourage Yourself
However, David did not let those words deter him. He simply turned from him. (1 Samuel 17:30)
Eliab was the first born and David was the 7th born and therefore to all intents and purposes Eliab was considered a very reliable source of information on David.
However, David did not waste his time arguing with him or trying to convince the people who were listening to Eliab otherwise, he simply turned away from him.
Therefore stop waiting for people to encourage you before you take action. Encourage yourself in the Lord and turn away from those who are discouraging you even if they "know you very well".
David believed in his abilities and he confidently told King Saul, If it attacked me, I caught it by its beard, struck it and killed it. I have killed a lion and a bear and this Philistine will be like one of them. (1 Samuel 17:36)Believe in Yourself
Therefore stop waiting for people to believe in your abilities before you make the move. Believe in your God given abilities and make the move.
When King Saul clothed David with his armor, bronze helmet and coat of mail, David took them off and told him, "I cannot walk with these since I have not tested them." (1 Samuel 17:38-39)Trust Yourself
Therefore stop trusting what others know more that you trust what you have learned as you walk with God.
We know that God was with David even when he was a shepherd because he told King Saul, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear." (1 Samuel 17:37)
David believed in God's ability to help him for he confidently stated to King Saul, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37)Believe in God
Therefore stop doubting God and His ability to help you. Trust Him completely. Trust Him and believe that His Mighty Hand will magnify your efforts the way He enabled David's stone slung from a sling knock down a giant who was wearing a helmet.
