It seemed a lopsided battle. On one side, a small shepherd with a sling and five stones. On the other, a heavily armored ten-foot giant whose taunts and challenges immobilized an army of seasoned warriors. The story of David and Goliath has become an almost universal underdog story; but in reality, Goliath never stood a chance. In Giant Killers, emotional intelligence speaker, consultant, and author Steve Lawson identifies the five vital emotional and social skills David possessed: identity, discipline, graciousness, action, and hope. When combined with the power of God’s grace, these strengths made it possible for David to defeat Goliath, build a mighty army out of social rejects, and establish the greatest kingdom in the history of Israel. We all face giants in our lives, if not as literally as David did. But like David, we can overcome any challenge, seizing with confidence the opportunities God places in our path. Giant Killers teaches you how to do so, providing a foundation on which you can build success after success. It all begins with you—and your willingness to trust in God’s grace.
Author Steve Lawson’s Giant Killers: Overcoming Obstacles and Seizing Opportunities takes a look at one of the greatest leaders and kings of all time – Kin David. He faced down a giant that had an entire army shaking in their sandals. He then went on to become the greatest warrior in Israel, build an army out of social rejects, and establish the greatest kingdom in the history of Israel.
When I saw this book, Giant Killers, by Steve Lawson, I was intrigued. I read the press release and became even more interested so when I received the book, I eagerly opened it the first day despite my editorial calendar telling me otherwise. I shifted some things around and decided to devote my attention to this book review instead.
This book spoke to me from the second I took it out of the mailer. I really believe that God was asking me to allow this book, Giant Killers, to speak to me. I sat down and started reading the book instead of doing some of the other things I thought I would be doing today or that I thought I should be doing today. I read the book cover to cover in a matter of hours sitting on the couch without moving, speaking, eating or drinking.
Lawson starts the book with the story of David and Goliath referring to 1 Samuel 17 of the Bible. He discusses how we all have “giants” in our lives that hold us back – whether those are fear, intimidating opportunities, life experiences that keep us from moving forward “such as guilt, insecurity, broken relationships, etc.) He calls them our “glass ceiling” keeping us from reaching our full potential Giants come in all forms – (1) internal (thoughts and feelings like guilt, insecurity, worry, etc.), (2) external (trauma, crisis, job stress, finances, relational), and (3) opportunities (new job, new school, new ministry, personal growth, dreams, etc.). Author, Steve Lawson sets out to help us face and conquer them – to become Giant Killers.
I barely had the book open before I read “Don’t let your giants write the rules” followed by Psalms 23:4-6. Wow, I needed to read that – in that order – right now. Mr. Lawson shares many of the struggles he has faced in his own life in this book – the giants he has faced and has overcome. He reminds us that before we can truly be comfortable with who we are, we must accept who God says we are.
Coincidentally, I was having a conversation this morning about how ashamed of myself I can be when someone references my sarcasm. I realize sarcasm is a sin and it bothers me that I might be described as “You know, Debi, that sarcastic woman” or even worse, “you know, Debi, that woman who gossips” rather than “you know, Debi, that woman who loves the Lord so much”. (Okay, I’m sure the conversation wasn’t so much coincidental as God-guided since I went on to spend the day reading this book.) I learned that I’m no different than anyone else. We all have a list of those secret sins – recurring or otherwise – and until we discover new levels of grace, we will not be able to come alive. Mr. Lawson reminds us that God doesn’t have that list, and that Colossians 2 tells us that He nailed my list to the cross and shamed the Devil with it. My past has been covered by the blood of Jesus and God has said that He will never bring it up again, and this goes for my present and future sins as well. Turns out that list of mine has become null and void.
God does have a list for me – not the list I had entitled “Failure” but instead, it’s a list entitled “Grace”. His Grace list for me has transformational, life-giving power. God didn’t save us to leave us out on our own. We are redeemed and forgiven! Amen! Ephesians 1 is a passage that speaks for our identities in Christ. (I am going to try and spend a few minutes every day reading Ephesians 1 from now on). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE page 25 where it lists all the places in the Bible that define me. Here are a just few examples: I am a friend of Christ (John 15:15), I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1), I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
The next couple of pages go on to share the Biblical verses that provide the results of my salvation, which are so amazing. This book will be one of those reference books I keep around just to remind me of God’s amazing grace. There is so much more in this book that allows us to learn how to kill our giants – how to face our lives in faith. This book reminds us that as leaders, we need to engage people, influence them, challenge them, and motivate them. We need to see what God is doing in people and be ready to invest ourselves in them as they become who He has called them to be.
This book teaches us that God’s grace not only gives us a new identity, but it trains us as well. Because of grace, we welcome God’s conviction and correction as well as His instruction and discipline. we trust Him because we know He does all of this for our good. As we really begin to understand and trust His heart toward us, it is much easier to honestly and objectively assess and manage what we are learning about ourselves.
I’m not going to give you all the details of this book – grab it for yourself and I promise you – you won’t be sorry.
