What words scare you? What words intimidate you? What words cause you to shrink back in despair? What words cause you to pause, ponder and penetrate your heart? Friends, we are in a words war and the enemy only launches words at us, for he knows words are weapons and they have the power to cause us great damage. You know what is amazing to me, there is no new playbook, no new tactic, it is the same old stuff that Israel dealt with and that we deal with, words from the enemy that seeks to paralyze us.

While walking the dog this morning, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Pick up five smooth stones.” I bent over near the place we were walking and found literally five smooth stones. I was rubbing them and thinking of David and the five smooth stones he picked up in order to fight Goliath. Once I got home, I opened my bible to 1 Samuel 17 and began reading the story of David and Goliath, for to me the invitation to pick up five smooth stones was pointing me to this story.

When we think we know a story really well we tend to read it with one eye open and one ear listening, but the Lord was speaking to me in surround sound today about many things, so I did not want to come to this familiar story as something to be treated casually. As I am reading I get to 1 Samuel 17:10-11 and it says, “And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

Defy means to taunt, blaspheme, reproach. Here is a giant of a man who could literally physically harm Israel and all he does is speak one line and they are dismayed and greatly terrified. It is as though the enemy went “boo” and they jumped, ran and retreated from the battle. Friends, the enemy is only full of hot air, he is only launching words at you. Just like Goliath he has no intention, no ability to harm you, but you must not run when he taunts you. Stand your ground (Ephesians 6); resist him and he will flee from you. There is nothing to fear, they are only words, they are not going to be backed up with action. Grab a smooth stone and remember the enemy cannot harm you for he is only hot air.