Day 57: I trust You, Lord. Going in faith. Judges 6
When God speaks, are you listening? When He gives you a sign, are you aware of it? How many blessings have you left because you didn't recognize what was going on?
And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi–ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. Judges 6:11-12 KJV
Have you asked God to open your eyes so you can see? Now ask Him to open your ears so you can hear. Daily, Holy Spirit is speaking to you. Angels are encamped all around you bringing you messages. Are you missing them?
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Judges 6:13 KJV
When you get a message, do you then question it? The first thing Gideon says is the opposite of what he's just heard. Instead of speaking against the message, come into agreement with it. If the Lord, says you are to open a business, go open it. Don't stand around wringing your fingers worried about the business failing. Did God tell you to start it? Well, it has no choice but to be successful.
And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Judges 6:14 KJV
The angel told Gideon to go in the strength that he has. He's prophesying that Gideon will win the battle. You can probably imagine Gideon looked like "who the heck you talking to...not me" because the angel confirms immediately that Gideon is being sent by God.
And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
Judges 6:15 KJV
Be reminded that this angel already called Gideon a 'man of valor'- a mighty warrior. Gideon thought so less of himself that he couldn't see who God saw in him. Are you like that? Did God call you a prophet to the nations but you're still stuttering like Moses and saying the opposite? Did God call you to be a CEO but because you are in the lowest position in the company, you call yourself a worker bee. Joseph was in prison and was promoted, second only to pharaoh, just like that (snap). Has God called you gifted, but you keep looking at your hands of destruction? Hands that destroy more than they create. Paul was completely transformed and started many churches in his day. You can be used too! God is saying: have I not sent you??!!
And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. Judges 6:16 KJV
Do you believe that if He assigned you to it, He'll get you through it? You don't have to worry! He's with you. Every step of the way. Read chapter 7. God was with Gideon the entire way. He guided him throughout the process. But hear this: he kept telling Gideon to take fewer men with him to fight this battle the Lord assigned him to fight. Gideon could've continued to question God along the way. Or he could've been completely disobedient and decided to do things his way. Guess what? He would've lost the battle. When God tells you to do something, if he wants you to prepare for it, he will tell you how to prepare. He may also do you like he did Gideon and just send you 'in your own strength'. You see, when God says go in your own strength, you better believe He's going to really show up for you! You have no strength without Him. He has no choice but to show up, and He showed up for Gideon.
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. Judges 6:17-18 KJV
Gideon was able to trust God. He'd first tested the voice that was speaking to Him. The voice wasn't familiar to him yet. So he said, "You know what Boo Boo (a lady is writing this, ok!), I don't know you, so you stay right there. I'm going to offer gift. If you are really God, then prove it." Later he asks for two more signs (verse 26-40). After this, he learned to not only recognize the voice of God, but to also trust it. He didn't see a need to continually test the voice he heard. He simply yielded to it and obeyed.
At times God may give you tough assignments. He may call you names that make your boots rattle. But don't rely on your own thoughts. It's ok to test the spirit.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 KJV
Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 KJV
Testing the words you are hearing should be practiced but at some point, you will need to get familiar with the voice of God. While you are asking for your ears to be opened, ask also that your discernment of spirits is activated as well. Once you know that it is you loving Father pushing you to greatness, it will become easier and easier to jump into the deep end, just like it was super easy for Gideon to go to battle with less men than he first anticipated.
Going in faith,
Keiyia JOYet George
Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!