SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                      1007

“When God is in it”

And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand… (Judges 7:7)

Gideon and his army were already hopelessly outnumbered against the 135,000 Midianite troops yet God chose to pare his army down even further to only 300 men. Gideon and his men trusted in God and acted in obedience and God gave them a mighty victory.

As I reflect on my life walk with Jesus, I see how His plans for me have always worked for my good although at the time some circumstances did not feel very good. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

I see that oftentimes that God was stripping away the things of this world that I trusted in much like He did when paring down Gideon’s men. God wanted me to learn to trust in Him more and more. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (Psalm 37:5)

Upon further reflection I see how full of religion and ritual I was when I first came to Christ while the desires of my heart remained in the world. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (Matthew 15:8) God continued to pare me down and peel away the veneer of religiosity. God wants our obedience. And Samuel said… Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

I wonder if Gideon wanted a second opinion because God chose to bolster his faith by having him go down into the camp and hear the enemy’s dream and interpretation for himself. I confess that I have often questioned what God was doing in my life.

When financial hardships struck I questioned the principle of tithing. I repented of coveting the Lord’s tithe and obeyed. My testimony is that God is faithful and His Word is true: The remaining 90% has miraculously been and continues to be more than sufficient to meet our needs. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10)

Little is much when God is in it. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

May you seek Him and His presence in all things. Remember that all things are possible with God. But Jesus…said…with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)  May the Lord open the eyes of your heart to see His Loving hand at work in all your life circumstances to mold, shape, equip, guide and provide for you.