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Pray, Fast and Stand

Writer's picture: Heather BradleyHeather Bradley



Have you ever felt the taunts of a seemingly, insurmountable giant in your life? What was your reaction? For years of my life I had a tormenting giant named fear provoke me. Let’s take a look at a shepherd boy named David, the enemy called the Philistines and the Israelite army-God’s people. 


Here is a glimpse at the fear that was tormenting the Israelites. “8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” (1 Samuel 17:8-11)


Did you catch that-the Israelites were dismayed and terrified-fear can do that. Fear has a way of being more than it really is-the devil is an illusionist. It was the words of the Philistine’s that trapped them in fear. The problem is we can fall prey to this spirit when he rears his ugly head. It’s a mind game that the enemy traps us in. Having a fear to not walk out into oncoming traffic is healthy-it keeps us alive. However, fear from the the devil is irrational and tormenting. This fear is sent to trap us. To paralyze us in bondage.  To shrink back in apathy. Once taken prisoner by fear the devil then sends oppression, control, panic, and anxiety. The web gets deeper and harder to escape. 


Remember it was the words that trapped the Israelites. If we can become aware of our thought patterns and renounce the lies of the enemy and then replace those lies with the truth of God’s words-we will break off this stronghold. It’s in our minds-if we don’t understand the battle starts and ends there we will remain a victim to fear. We will shrink back like the Israelites did with Goliath.


What made the shepherd boy an over-comer? What can we take from David when fighting our own battles? He was in relationship with God. He had faith and trust that God would fight his battles. His mindset was different than the others. This set him up to take the enemy down. He used what he knew had worked before on the enemy. Remember he was a shepherd and had to protect sheep. He had fought predators off from his flock. He brought his weapon in one hand-his sling shot and stones. On the other hand he had his faith in God. When David arrives on the scene of the battle and checks in to find out what is going on-he learns this….



20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. 26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel :20-26)


The Israelites would run in great fear from the taunts. David asked the right question from a right mindset, “ Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Notice how he called him uncircumcised? This Goliath was not of God! David would not allow him to continue to defile God-David had a healthy fear of the Lord. 


We too need to bring down the stronghold of fear in our lives so we can walk in freedom for ourselves and then help others do the same. Our nation is in a battle right now that is defying who God is. We need to rise up in prayer and fasting-these are our weapons and stand for future generations. Our children and grandchildren are depending on us to take down these giants that have tormented our nation long enough. 


The question is what will be our response? Will we continue to be like the Israelites and be taunted by the giants of fear, silencing, persecution, abortion, gender confusion and the breakdown of the family? Or will we be like David-and say not on my watch how dare you come up against the living God? 


If you have had enough there is a nationwide prayer movement happening. Head over to @hervoicemovent and find out how you can add your prayers to this move. We are on a mission to take back what the enemy has stolen. We owe it to our children and grandchildren. Let’s take a stand in prayer and fasting and pull down these giants in our generation. Remember we have Jesus that will fight this battle and He is The Lord of Lords and King of Kings! 


In Him,

Heather Bradley

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