When King Saul saw the young shepherd David go out to face and take down the giant Goliath with only a slingshot and stone, he stood there in disbelief. Saul couldn't understand how David could fight like a warrior or where he had learned to speak so powerfully, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" Where did he get the courage, the leadership? Who trained him? When Saul met with David, he didn't say, "Congratulations! That was awesome!" He asked, "Young man, who is your father?" (1 Samuel 17:58). He was saying, "Where do you come from? You must have an incredible father."

I can imagine Saul telling an assistant, "Find out everything about David's father, Jesse." The research came back: "He's an ordinary shepherd, lives in an average house, shops at Walmart, and eats Chick-fil-A. There's nothing significant about Jesse." Saul was perplexed: How could David come from an average family and have such greatness in him? How did he rise up and become a hero? The reason Saul was confused was because David didn't tell him about his Heavenly Father. Your greatness and courage, the hero in you, doesn't come from your natural father. The Scripture says, "Every good gift comes from your Father in heaven above" (James 1:17).

Here's the key: You come through your father, but you come from Almighty God. He knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb. You may have had a father like Jesse who didn't see your potential and made you feel limited. But God knows how to cause the gifts He put in you to come out, how to make you shine. Your time is coming. You're going to accomplish dreams bigger than others imagine. There will be people like Saul who wonder in disbelief, "How could you get a college degree, start that business, or lead that company in sales?" What you're going to accomplish is not going to match where you've come from.

I had an awesome father, but I realize I'm not just John Osteen's son; I'm a son of the Most High God. Celebrate and honor your father, but don't stop there. Recognize that the gifts, the courage, the creativity, and the greatness in you comes from your Heavenly Father. Don't discount yourself, and don't come up with excuses about how you were raised to settle for mediocrity. Your Heavenly Father has been watching over you even before you were born. What He started, He's going to finish. There are gifts and talents in you that He's about to bring out. You're going to step into a new boldness and confidence, and you will see favor and increase that your family has never seen.