Name your giants!

Personally, I prefer to acknowledge my giants. It is more profitable for me in the long run to become painfully aware of my limitations, my personal struggles, the conflicting circumstances in my life. I have to name my giants, give them a first and last name. God wants a realistic people, not to obsess over problems, but to know specifically how to tackle them.

Many people are living an artificial life, without much relation to the reality that they truly inhabit. They disguise their flaws, blame others; they ignore financial problems until they are hit over the head with a bat. There is the poor woman telling her husband, "Look, pay the electricity bill, we are already two months behind." And he answers, totally unconcerned: "Don't worry, we still have a lot of time." And a day comes when he tries to turn on the light, and ... nothing happens. Not! Look lucidly at your situation; be specific in defining your problems. Specificity is key in the Christian life. Being specific when approaching life situations is one of the most powerful principles for success.

When the enemy comes against us, it is important that we know what their weapons consist of, and what ours consist of! When David prepares to confront Goliath, he tells him: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel ”(II Sam 17:45). David was clearly aware of every weapon his opponent possessed. At the same time, he knew specifically what he was counting on, and what the true nature of his own armor was.

As I write these lines, I am deeply involved in the planning process for the construction of a new temple. This is one of the great tasks that I currently face as a pastor, perhaps the greatest challenge that I have undertaken in my entire ministerial career. While operating from a position of faith, I have to pay close attention to detail. I cannot afford to be careless or superficial in my project planning or execution process.

That is, in the leader's spiritual journey, the element of faith does not prevent us from remaining aware of obstacles and details, or from employing healthy planning and strategy skills. It does not prevent, in other words, that like Moses, we spy on the land before possessing it, even knowing that God has promised to give it to us. Incidentally, the detailed attitude that Moses reflects in his instructions to the twelve spies is tremendously instructive. Before sending them on their mission he instructs them:

Go up from here to the Negev, and go up to the mountain, and observe the land how it is, and the people that inhabit it, whether it is strong or weak, if little or numerous; how is the inhabited earth, if it is good or bad; and how are the inhabited cities, if they are camps or fortified squares; and how is the land, if it is fertile or sterile, if there are trees or not.

Note the specific and detailed instructions, the meticulous look of the competent statesman and military leader, seeking precise intelligence on the elements that are to determine the strategy to be followed. Faith does not deny lucidity! The two things have to go together.

We have to ask the Lord for wisdom and intelligence. The Bible talks about science too. Ask the Lord to give you intelligence, knowledge, specific strategy, as well as spiritual wisdom. There is a difference.

In times of financial deprivation and sterility, gifted people with special intelligence are required to find resources where others will not see them. That is why we have to ask the Lord, "Give me specific knowledge, give me strategy, to dig and find where others find nothing." A lucid look is needed, a detailed conscience, that allows us to go before the provider God with a specific request, that allows us to receive strategy and resources for the battle that lies ahead. Define your situation. Count the cost. Name your giants!