Lies in our self-talk tend to sound more real in the morning and evening. The Philistine Goliath used both these times to try to intimidate King Saul and the army of Israel.

“And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening” (1 Samuel 17:16).

Earlier in this chapter, we gain more insight into what Goliath was doing morning and evening.

“He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel . . . “Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us . . . 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” (1 Samuel 17:8-11 ESV)

Our enemy, the devil, likes to “shout” lies to us especially in the morning and evening. He loudly proclaims we are failures, powerless, lacking solutions, have hopeless situations around us, insignificant, and that there is something uniquely wrong with us. If we can win the battle in our minds in the morning and evening, it will create a powerful dynamic for personal victory and increased influence. 

David, who killed Goliath, was intentional in what he focused on in the morning and evening. Psalm 1 illustrates this. (This Psalm was most likely written by David or one of his followers.)

“But his (the blessed one’s) delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:2-3).

Joshua also was instructed to win the battle in his mind in the morning and evening:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). 

The Hebrew word for meditate is hāḡâ and it means “to ponder. imagine, meditate, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter”. This implies there is a lot of interaction with God’s truths in our thinking and talking. These actions of pondering, imagining, and speaking about God’s word in the morning and evening will quiet, and eventually silence, the shouting of the deceiver. 

David and Joshua are two of the most powerful leaders in the Old Testament. They had a plan to overcome “Goliath’s” morning and evening taunts. Right now, as you read this blog, you are receiving a David and Joshua grace to meditate on what God is saying and has said. It will lead you to prosper in whatever you do and wherever you go, and produce massive good success for you.