Marybeth McCullum

The Rest of Faith

“Twenty-six days until Christmas!” My twelve-year old son announced gleefully as we pulled into the driveway after a Thanksgiving trip visiting family. I could feel the knot of dread forming in my stomach. Christmas was less than a month away and I had not done one thing to prepare. It felt like the train was leaving the station and I was standing on the platform watching it go. On top of that, I was already worn out and not looking forward to jumping back into the regular responsibilities of daily life. I was feeling heavy hearted and discouraged that some old frustrations were re-surfacing after I thought they’d been resolved. Suffice it to say, it was not a good way to kick off the Christmas season.

I woke up early the next morning with my mind swimming. There were so many things I needed to do, I felt overwhelmed with where to begin. Knowing I wasn’t going to fall back to sleep, I pulled back the covers and decided I might as well be productive in spite of my lack of energy. I could already sense I was starting the day off on the wrong foot and realized before I tackled any tasks, I needed some time alone in God’s word and prayer. I grabbed my Bible study book and thumbed through to Week Two, Day Four in Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still. I had to laugh as I read the title “The Rest of Faith.” I’d never fully understood this phrase before and certainly wasn’t experiencing it at that moment. Did “rest” mean “remainder” as in “the rest of the story”? Or did it literally mean “peace of mind or spirit?” As I delved into Kay Arthur’s study it was as if the lesson had been written specifically for me to read on that very day.

The study examines the passage in Hebrews 3:7- 4:3. In case you don’t have a Bible handy, here it is:

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts  as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,  and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,  do not harden your hearts  as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger,  ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.

Before diving into an explanation of the passage, the lesson directed me to read Numbers 13 & 14, which is the story that the Hebrews passage refers to in chapters 3 & 4. The Numbers passage describes the Israelites arriving at the Promised Land (the first time). In the Numbers story, 12 spies are sent by Moses to scout out the land for 40 days. Upon returning, they report that the land is flowing with milk and honey, just as God had promised. However, ten of the spies finish the description of the bountiful land with foreboding: “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large” (Numbers 13:28). Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, advise the Israelites to go through with God’s plan. In Numbers 14:7-9, Joshua and Caleb say to the people:

“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Instead of listening to Joshua and Caleb, the people cry out against them and ultimately, against God. Because of this rebellion, God declares that the Israelites will wander in the desert for 40 years, one year for every day the spies scouted out the land. Further, He strikes the 10 spies who had given a bad report with a plague and they die immediately. Out of all the adults over 20, only Joshua and Caleb survive and live to enter God’s rest in the Promised Land 40 years later. (You may remember the story of their second time entering the Promised Land from my earlier blog and/ or the live talk at Focused Living entitled “Finding Your 20 Seconds of Courage.”)

Kay Arthur points out how sad it is that “instead of believing and trusting God and His Word, [the Israelites] threw a tantrum of unbelief that cost them 40 years of wandering in the wilderness…Only Joshua and Caleb were spared, and that is because they were the two spies who believed in God” (p. 47).

Contrast the fear of the people with the reassurance that Caleb tries to provide them: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30). Kay explains: “This… is the rest of faith…Rest is uniting the Word of faith and living in it at that very moment. It’s the action of faith for today—for this moment, this situation” (p.47). According to Hebrews 3:19, the Israelites were disobedient because they showed unbelief. This is what prevented them from entering into God’s rest in the Promised Land. For them, the rest would have been both literal (not having to wander in the desert anymore) and figurative (having spiritual peace).

Hebrews tells us we do not have to make the same mistake the Israelites made. “For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said” (Hebrews 4:3). We enter into God’s rest when we accept Christ as our Savior, and we continue to enter into His rest every time we show Him we believe His word to be true through our actions and attitudes. Entering God’s rest starts with one decision and then becomes an ongoing series of choices in our lives daily.

Belief in God shows by our actions. This boils down to a simple question: Do we live like we believe? If so, we should be receiving His rest. For me, that means spending less time trying to work things out on my own wisdom and spending more time seeking God. Once I’ve laid a situation at His feet, my job is to trust Him by resting in Him. In my life, this has more to do with a change of focus than anything else.

The morning that I woke up with a bad attitude, heavy with discouragement and totally unprepared for Christmas, I had to do some serious soul-searching. I was convicted that if I really believed the Christmas season was about celebrating the birth of Jesus, then I had no reason to be stressed and anxious. I’d lost my focus by worrying about all of the tasks that seemed so daunting to me.

The start of the Christmas season is often accompanied by a ramp up of stress for many people. The holidays tend to accentuate areas in our lives where we don’t have peace. It could be something simple such as worrying about all of the shopping, decorating and cooking to be done. It could be something deeper. The holidays often exacerbate loneliness or shine a spotlight on difficult relationships. Sometimes they remind us of our weaknesses when we succumb to the temptation to eat and drink too much. They might emphasize the inadequacy we feel when our bank accounts can’t cover the purchases we want to make. For those struggling with depression, the dark days of December and the swirl of activity can make their spirits descend even further. Sadly, there are many of us who feel exempt from the Angels’ pronouncement in Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Regardless of the circumstance in our lives that rob us of our peace, God invites us to believe His promises and to find rest in Him. Scroll back up and take a look at the photo at the top of this posting. That sleeping little boy is my younger son when he was two–the same one who is now twelve that I mentioned earlier. He was so worn out after a busy day he’d spontaneously fallen asleep on the couch. He had no choice but to enter into the deep rest he so desperately needed. That’s what the rest of faith is all about- relinquishing our need to control and trusting God to work in His perfect timing.

If you find yourself feeling weary and worn, let the song below bring you some encouragement. You are not alone—let God’s redemptive power work in you as you trust Him to give you exactly what you need for each moment.

Click here to listen to “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North.

Practicing Gratitude

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. –Psalm 100

Each time I walk into the grocery store lately stacks of canned pumpkin, boxes of stuffing mix and displays of cranberry sauce tell me that Thanksgiving is upon us. There is no doubt; it’s the season for eating. Although many people see the focal point of this holiday as a large meal, I love it because it is centered on the attitude of our hearts. The idea of gathering with those we love to pause and be thankful to God for all the He has done is something worth celebrating.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been looking at what the Bible has to say about giving thanks. Some have convicted me, some have inspired me, and all of them have given me ideas about how to practice the art of thankfulness more consistently in my life. Maybe you’ll be challenged to try one for yourself to make this year’s Thanksgiving even more meaningful.

God’s Faithfulness Through All Generations

Psalm 100 (written above) reminds us we have many things to thank God for:

1. He made us. 2. We are His. 3. He is good. 4. His love endures forever. 5. His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Those are some pretty big concepts that I often take for granted. The one that strikes me most right now is the last one: His faithfulness continues through all generations. I am thankful that I was blessed with parents who taught me to love God and to value His word. My husband and I are striving to do the same for our kids. I am thankful that no matter what the future holds, my children can rest assured knowing that God’s faithfulness to them will continue. In this world of uncertainty where the future doesn’t always look bright, this is something to be thankful for, indeed.

People Who Have Impacted My Life

Recently I was leafing through my Bible looking through all of the letters Paul wrote in the New Testament. I was struck by how often he opens with giving thanks to God for the people to whom he was writing and with whom he shared a common bond of faith. They were people he spent time with, prayed with, taught and ministered to in a variety of ways. A quick count revealed nine books in the New Testament where Paul gives thanks for people. In case you’re wondering, here are the references: Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:4, Ephesians 1:16, Philippians 1:3-6, Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Timothy 1:3, Philemon 4.

My favorite is probably Philippians 1:3-6: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Like Paul, there are many people in my life with whom I’ve been blessed to share a “partnership in the gospel.” There are friends who have enriched my life as they’ve walked with me work through hard situations; friends who have helped me to discover and use my spiritual gifts; friends who have pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone; friends who have helped me to see myself as God sees me… for them I give God thanks. I might even take it one step further and write a few cards this week to let them know how God has blessed me through them.

Miracles, Both Large and Small

In her book One Thousand Gifts, author Ann VosKamp points out that Jesus often gave thanks to God before performing miracles. One great example of this is in John 6:11 when Jesus is preparing to feed a crowd of 5000. He takes the meager offering of five small barley loaves and two fish given to Him by a little boy. Here is what happens next: “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”

So often when I’ve read this in the past, I’ve skipped right past the crucial phrase “gave thanks” and have instead focused on the amazing miracle Jesus performed. How frequently have I done the same to God in my life? I wonder when I’ve prayed for a miracle but skipped over the part about thanking God first–or recognizing the ways He’s already working in a situation.

I have a friend whose husband was out of work a few years ago. In our weekly prayer requests at Bible study, she would often write “I’m thankful for the awesome job that God is preparing for my husband right now.” Wow, that was humbling for me to read. She was thanking God for a need He hadn’t met yet and trusting Him for a miracle. Her example was an encouraging reminder when my own husband was in the midst of a job challenge earlier this year. I was able to pray with true excitement and thankfulness for how God would work out a seemingly impossible situation (If you haven’t already, you can read more about this story in my blog post entitled: God Margin: When God’s 300 is Greater Than the Enemy’s 135,000).

Replacing Angst with Thanks

I like to think of myself as a “recovering worrier.” I have a tiny problem with feeling anxious about things on a fairly regular basis (that might be an understatement). It’s probably the reason Philippians 4:6-7 is one of my favorite verses: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This passage challenges me to take my worries and turn them into prayers. We can thank God for hearing our prayers and already having the answer figured out– even when we don’t know what it is. The verse doesn’t say God will answer our prayers right away and do exactly what we want. However, it does say that when we lay our anxious thoughts before Him, a peace that defies understanding will rest upon us. It doesn’t guarantee that whatever is making us anxious will be resolved, but it does say thanking God gives us a peace that guards our hearts. The act of thanking God changes our perspectives and eliminates the need for worry.

Being Thankful in All Circumstances

A few years ago my small group did a verse exchange for Christmas. People wrote a favorite verse on a card and then we drew them out of a basket.

The verse I drew was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Since that time, the verse has been a favorite in my life and one I’ve given to others often. It is simple in theory, but challenging to put into practice daily: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes I can thank God for good situations and even hard situations, but I forget to thank Him for some of the more mundane things in my life that are easy to take for granted. Sometimes the stuff of motherhood seems like a chore. Laundry seems to reproduce at lightning speed. Dishes always seem to be in the sink. My kids regularly need help with school assignments or rides to sports practices and other activities. Errands always need to be run. Each of these seemingly mundane tasks can suck the life out of me if I have the wrong perspective. However, when I take time to be thankful, something changes in me. Those mountains of laundry mean that I have the blessing of a family. They show that we have an abundance of clothing to wear and the luxury of a washer and drier to do the worst parts of the job. Those dishes in the sink remind me to be thankful that we eat three meals a day and can have food whenever our stomachs grumble even slightly. Helping my kids with schoolwork means they are being educated and will have an abundance of opportunities available to them as a result. The fact that I can help them shows that I’ve been blessed with a sound mind and a good education as well. With a thankful heart the mundane things that I “have to do” become the blessings that I “get to do.” A simple shift in perspective is all it takes.

Practicing Thankfulness

No doubt, you’ll spend some time this week shopping at a variety of stores and preparing special food to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year, try working in some time to practice thankfulness by looking at a few of the topics I’ve touched on above and taking time to name the things for which you’re thankful. It will bless you with a more meaningful celebration. It will also leave you filled up in a way that feels considerably better than the usual post-Thanksgiving meal belly bloat. Spread the gratitude by sharing some of your thoughts with others around the table or leave a comment below.

For more inspiration on being thankful, click on the link below to hear the song “All I Can Do (Thank You)” by the band MIKESCHAIR.

The Spiritual Nutrients in the Bread of Life

I grew up in a household that placed a high value on knowing and studying the Bible. It wasn’t so much in what my parents said as in what they did to show us their priorities. Throughout my childhood I watched my parents devote themselves to participating in weekly Bible studies that required a fair amount of homework. I can remember coming home from school to find my mom at the kitchen table with her papers spread all over as she pored over her enormous “parallel” Bible (four translations in one book). Any time I stayed home sick, I couldn’t watch TV until my mom had finished listening to her favorite Bible teachers on the radio. This was a daily activity for her as she worked in the kitchen or did housework while all of us kids were at school. It seemed boring to me at the time, but her actions influenced me more than I realized.

Looking back, I see my parents treated studying the Bible as a priority in their schedules. It wasn’t drudgery or something they did because the “had” to do it. And it wasn’t a luxury that they did only when they’d finished all of the other “important” tasks that demanded their time. It was just woven into the fabric of their schedules.

When my oldest son was born, one of my goals for my first year at home with him was to find a Bible study. Following my parents’ example, I wanted to immerse myself in God’s word with more discipline and consistency than I had before. It has been fourteen years since I set out to get serious about studying the Bible. I’ve been blessed to see the benefits of pursuing that goal. The more I’ve studied it, the more I’ve realized what a rich and layered book it is. And the more I’ve studied, the more I’ve changed, grown and gained wisdom as God has revealed Himself to me through the pages of His holy word.

Once I started seeing positive results, I was motivated to keep pushing myself further. Old things that used to seem appealing suddenly weren’t as enticing anymore. Each new truth I discovered opened my eyes to God’s character, goodness and grace, causing me to love Him more and to be grateful for all He’d done for me. His word gave me hope and strength in hard times and confidence to be stretched in new ways. Studying with others who had similar goals also helped me on the road to growing deeper.

Making time to study the Bible has not always been easy. Over the years I’ve crossed paths with many people like me who have faced challenges in their quest to know and live God’s word. Here are three of the most prevalent issues students of the Bible face:

Viewing Studying the Bible as Drudgery

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the mindset of thinking studying scripture is something we “should” do because it’s good for us. Kind of like eating your vegetables when you’re a kid. Yet, in 2 Timothy, Paul says: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) If we dabble in Bible study and view it as drudgery, this makes it difficult to handle the word of truth correctly. If we’re doing it just to check it off our “to do” lists, chances are it’s not really impacting our lives much.

The writer of Hebrews describes it this way: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good from evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Viewing Studying the Bible as a Luxury

Kay Arthur comments in the Session 1 video of Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still that “we’re so entangled with the affairs of this life that we’re not studying the Word of God as we ought to.” Sometimes we view time studying the Bible as a luxury or a “bonus” that we can indulge once we’ve gotten all of our “important” tasks finished. When I get up in the morning I’m often tempted to check my phone or computer before I open my Bible. However, when I do this I usually get sucked into the day’s events and neglect that quiet time in God’s word I so desperately need. “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) Just like we need food every day, we need God’s word every day. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Losing Focus with Priorities

Sometimes I joke that the problem with America is that we have too many choices. There are so many things vying for our time and attention that seem good, important or just plain fun. We fill our schedules full and then complain that we “don’t have time” for studying the Bible. We’re so busy doing that we’ve forgotten how to be. Many Christians find disciplined study of the Bible infringes on their schedules in light of all their other obligations. When they do find themselves with “down time,” they are too exhausted for the serious study that leads to maturity.

Yet, in Hebrews 2:1, we see an important reminder: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Paying careful attention requires time, effort and commitment. Reading, studying and knowing the Bible needs to be woven into the fabric of our daily lives, not something we do haphazardly when we have a few extra minutes. When we let other priorities take precedence over studying God’s word, we don’t grow and mature as we’re meant to and we forego the vital spiritual nutrients we need to survive.

Ideas for Realigning Our Focus

Most of us have probably found ourselves in one or all of the categories above at different points in our lives. Read below to diagnose your current challenge and to get some practical ideas for getting back on track.

Drudgery: It may feel like drudgery when we’re more motivated by outward influences. If you find yourself feeling “guilty” for not studying the Bible more, it might have more to do with worrying what others think than really wanting to know God’s word. Perhaps you are someone who just plain doesn’t like reading, studying and doing homework. If either of these describes you, pray and ask God to increase your desire for His word and to help you see and feel why studying it is beneficial.

Luxury: If your problem is viewing studying the Bible as a luxury, try fasting from food for a day. (I’m serious). Every time your stomach rumbles, you’ll be reminded that food is a necessity, not a luxury, just like God’s word.

Prioritizing Your Time: If you struggle with making time in God’s word a priority, try evaluating your schedule. Take an honest look at how you spent your time in the last week. Are there moments that you could have used more wisely? In my life, screens can often be major time-suckers- whether it is checking e-mail, scanning Facebook, researching something online, relaxing in front of the TV or checking my phone. If you can relate, try to put time studying the Bible before these activities instead of saving it for after. Or, try turning off screens half an hour earlier so you can get up in the morning and start your day in God’s word.

Whatever might be keeping you from delving into the Bible more deeply, I encourage you to seek God’s help and ask a trusted friend to keep you accountable.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things” (Philippians 3:13b-15a).

What tips do you have for encouraging others to be disciplined in their study of God’s Word? Take a moment to comment and let us know.

Finding Your Twenty Seconds of Courage

Throughout the story of Gideon we see moments of incredible bravery when Gideon had to step out in faith to trust God. Gideon’s weakness became a conduit to reveal God’s incredible strength. In each pivotal moment of Gideon’s story, he had to take the first step in deciding whether he would follow God’s plan or cower in his own weakness. I like to think about those crucial twenty seconds of courage in each terrifying situation he faced: tearing down his father’s altar to Ba’al, accepting military leadership despite his lack of experience, sending home 31,700 soldiers despite the 135,000 Midianites he was called to attack, and entering battle with only 300 men armed with nothing more than clay jars, torches and trumpets.

What we need to realize is that we have access to that same power Gideon had. We have opportunities every day to entrust our weaknesses to God and to watch how He gives us strength to accomplish His purposes.

This whole idea of “Twenty Seconds of Courage” was inspired in me by watching the movie We Bought a Zoo. Check out the clip here:

Matt Damon’s character says these inspiring words: “Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally, twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery and I promise you, something great will come of it.” When we trust God to give us 20 seconds of courage to obey Him, it can transform our lives for good and impact others in powerful ways.

Gideon was not the only one who stepped out in faith relying on God’s strength in the midst of his weakness. Let’s look at a few other people in the Bible who did this to see if we can discover how they found the courage to step out in faith when the odds were against them.

Joshua:

One of my favorite stories takes place in Joshua, Chapter 3. Joshua has just become the new leader of the Children of Israel after Moses’ death. Imagine how daunting it must have been to come after Moses, the man who spoke directly to God and led the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land. That is probably why God tells Joshua three times in Joshua 1 “Be strong and courageous.”

His task in Joshua 3 is to lead roughly two million Jews across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The biggest problem is that this is during flood stage and the swollen river was probably several hundred yards across. God instructs Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the river and to trust that He will hold back the waters. Imagine the twenty seconds of courage it must’ve taken Joshua to tell the priests the plan! Amazingly, the priests agree to the plan and God parts the waters to allow all of the people to walk on dry ground and pass safely into the Promised Land.

I’d guess that Joshua’s courage came from his past experiences with Yahweh. He’d seen God part the Red Sea in Exodus 14, he’d seen him provide manna for the people throughout their forty years wandering in the desert (see Exodus 16 for the first occurrence), and he’d won a battle against the Amalekites against amazing odds. This passage describing that battle is too good not to share:

“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.’”

God wanted to make sure Joshua remembered this amazing victory so that he would have courage to lead in the future.

The bottom line? Joshua found his twenty seconds of courage through remembering God’s faithfulness in the past.

Jehoshaphat:

The story of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 might be one of my favorites of all time. In earlier chapters, we learn that Jehoshaphat was a king who honored God by removing the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. He also valued God’s word and sent officials throughout Judah to teach the Book of the Law to the people.

In chapter 20, Jehoshaphat learns that a vast army is marching to attack Judah. I love his response in verses 3-4:

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

Jehoshaphat’s impulse wasn’t to gather his military advisors, count his troops or inventory the weapons in Judah’s arsenal. His impulse was to seek God. He gathers his people together to pray and fast. In his public prayer before all the people, he doesn’t’ start by pleading with God to save Judah, instead, he praises God’s power. Next, he proclaims God’s past deeds. He finally gets around to presenting God with his problem and then shows ultimate humility by admitting his position of powerlessness. In verse 12 he says:

“We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

The next day God sends Jehoshaphat to meet his enemies. The prophet who shares God’s plan reassures Jehoshaphat by saying in 20:17:

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

In 20:21 Jeshoshaphat follows God plan and marches out to battle after appointing men to go out at the head of the army singing: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

Much like the story of Gideon, God causes the enemies to turn on one another and by the time Jehoshaphat and his army arrive the enemies have all destroyed one another. All that is left for Jehoshaphat and his men to do is collect the plunder.

The bottom line? Jehoshaphat found his twenty seconds of courage through praising God.

Peter:

The story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-33 is one of my favorites from the New Testament. I love the fact that he was the only disciple with enough courage to ask Jesus to enable him to walk on water when he saw Jesus walking on the waves towards the boat. Even though Peter does falter for a moment when he lets the wind and the waves take his eyes off Jesus, he remembers where to turn for help in verse 30:

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

Much like Jehoshaphat, he knew that in his powerlessness, God was the only one who could save him. Just how did Peter become so trusting of Jesus that he was willing to step out of the boat into the storm tossed waters? I turned to the beginning of the book of Matthew to see what events took place prior to this one. It’s quite an impressive list. Here are a few of the things that happened earlier in the story:

-He saw Jesus heal the sick (Matt 4)

-He heard Jesus preach the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)

-He saw Jesus calm a storm (Matt 8)

-He saw Jesus heal two demon-possessed men (Matt 8)

-He saw Jesus heal a paralytic (Matt 9)

-He saw Jesus raise a girl from death (Matt 9)

-He was sent out to preach, heal, raise dead, cleans lepers and drive out demons (Matt 10)

-He saw Jesus feed a crowd 5000 people using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (Matt 14)

Peter had already witnessed Jesus doing amazing things. He had developed a relationship of love and trust and knew that through Jesus he could do seemingly impossible things. The bottom line? Peter’s twenty seconds of courage came through trusting Jesus.

There are several common threads that we can see between the characters in all three stories.

1. All three knew and valued God’s Word

2. All three shared God’s truth with others

3. All three knew God was capable of doing more than they could do on their own

4. All three knew their own weaknesses

5. All three impacted others using God’s strength

6. All three had personal and intimate relationships with God

7. All three led courageously in seemingly impossible situations

Here is the best part: None of the things on this list are specific to a particular person, culture or time period. All of them can be true of us today as much as they were for Joshua, Jehoshaphat and Peter.

As we wrap up our study of Gideon, what will be different in your life going forward? What areas do you need to work on so that you’ll be ready when God calls you to step out to give Him 20 seconds of courage?

Our moments of courage can be large or small, but each one matters to God. Do you sense God nudging you in some way that may seem frightening?

-Maybe He’s calling you to pick up the phone and mend a broken relationship

-Maybe He’s prompting you to speak an encouraging word to someone who is outside of your comfort zone

-Maybe He’s calling you to invite a friend or neighbor to church or Bible study

-Maybe He’s nudging you to open your home to someone in need

-Maybe He’s telling you to say “no” to a few commitments that will enable you to spend more time with Him or studying His word

-Maybe He’s prompting you to spend more time pouring into others or less time with people who are dragging you down

-Maybe He’s calling you to go on that Missions trip you’ve been talking about for years

-Maybe He’s inviting you to trust Him with your finances and tithe or give sacrificially

-Maybe He’s nudging you to make that appointment with a Christian counselor that you’ve been putting off

-Maybe He’s telling you to use that Spiritual Gift you know you have but have been afraid to use

The list could go on. The point is, any act of bravery requires that first twenty seconds of courage to get started. Are you up for it? When you look back at the story of your life, what things do you see God has given you to draw on for courage? Are you ready to give Him your weakness and watch Him turn it into His strength? Post a comment and let us know!

Idols Erode a Firm Foundation

My mountain bike skidded to a stop, kicking up a billow of dust on the trail behind me. Something had caught my eye as I’d ridden down the hill and I wanted to investigate. The trail I’d been riding had a steep incline on its left side and perched on it was a large, old tree with its branches spread wide. The rain of many winters had taken its toll and had carried off much of the soil foundation. Large gnarled roots sat exposed to the elements revealing evidence of significant soil erosion. I guessed the whole tree would eventually slide down onto the trail if nothing were done to correct the problem.

Looking at the tree that day, I couldn’t help but think of the story of Gideon. Sadly, the end of Gideon’s tale is nowhere near as inspiring as the beginning. The firm foundation of Gideon’s faith slowly eroded over time as he allowed an idol to creep in and take center stage in his life. The story winds down with the Israelites quickly forgetting that it was God who led them to victory over the Midianites, not Gideon. Here is the first part of the story from Judges 8.

22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

While Gideon may sound humble here for refusing the position of King, what he did next shows he was a wee bit off base. Chapter 8 continues 24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels,[a] not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

While it’s not the uplifting ending I’d hoped for, it is a jolting wake up call for those of us trying to apply the story to our lives. Gideon and the Israelites wanted a tangible symbol of their victory. The ephod was meant to be a vest worn by the high priest and used to relay God’s guidance and instruction to the people. It wasn’t meant for use outside of these purposes. What was intended as a tool to draw people closer to God had become an idol instead.

It seems easy to recognize their folly, doesn’t it? Priscilla Shirer draws some modern comparisons that don’t let us dismiss this story as quickly as we’d like. The week 6 Lesson of Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength is full of examples of subtle idols that may have crept into our lives in the twenty first century. As I read her examples, many more flooded to my mind. Several are ones that have been snares in my own life. I’ve chosen a few that might make you squirm a bit. Rest assured, I have no specific person in mind for any of these. If you feel the discomfort of conviction as you read, ask God to show you how He’s calling you to respond rather than feeling offended or annoyed.

Scenario 1: Laura loves people and enjoys socializing. Whether she is staying late after Bible Study, attending a dinner party with her husband or enjoying a hike with girlfriends, she always makes time for other people. Sometimes she has a hard time being “present” with people because she’s worried she’s missing out on another conversation going on nearby. Laura gets so busy spending time with others that she often has overlaps in her schedule that require her to leave early or arrive late. Weekends become especially hectic as she squeezes in several social events each evening sandwiched between full days running her kids around to their activities. One Friday night, her kids finally decide they need a break and they beg for a family movie night at home. Laura can’t stand the thought of foregoing the neighborhood get together down the street. Her “fear of missing out” causes her to be fidgety and distracted instead of enjoying a peaceful night at home.

Scenario 2: Bob and Sue have a great, new pastor at church and they’re so excited to invite their friends to hear him preach. The Bible has come alive for them in a new way since he joined the staff. They look forward to the Sundays when he speaks. One Saturday they have an especially late night and when they wake up the next day, they’re too tired to make it to church. They find out later that a different pastor was preaching and are relieved they didn’t miss their “favorite.” Over time, they begin checking in advance to see who will be preaching. They make less of an effort to attend church when he’s not speaking. Two years later when the pastor announces he’s taking a new position at a different church, Bob and Sue seriously consider following him, despite the fact that the new church is over an hour away.

Scenario 3: Jason works hard and feels blessed to be his family’s provider. He sees himself as a steward of all God has given him and does his best to take care of things and to make them last- whether that is his car, his clothes or his house. He spends a lot of time on the weekends working in the yard or taking care of maintenance on the house. He adores his kids, but sometimes feels frustrated when they track mud inside or leave sports equipment in his car. There is nothing that feels better to him than having a place for everything and everything in its place. He often feels inadequate when he spends time with friends who have larger homes in more manicured neighborhoods than his. He works hard to make the house look nice and to feel comfortable. He can’t figure out why his kids never want to be at home or to invite friends over.

Scenario 4: After having her third child, Amy resolves it’s time to get serious about taking care of her body. She joins a gym, meets with a nutritionist and begins a weekly regimen of exercise and healthy eating. After a few months, she feels great both physically and mentally. Amy has more energy and focus, not to mention a slimmer, more toned physique. She’s quietly pleased when friends comment on how great she looks. When it’s time to sign up for her women’s Bible study, Amy hesitates, fearing that a morning away from the gym may interfere too much in her fitness regimen. She decides to sit out the study and do it by herself on her own time—that way it she won’t miss her favorite class at the gym.

Scenario 5: June and John are a recently retired couple with 4 adult kids living all over the United States. They love to travel and pride themselves on never missing a significant event in the lives of any of their 8 grandchildren. When they’re not with family, they enjoy visiting exotic new places and traveling with friends. Lately, June and John haven’t been motivated to go to church when they’re in town. Most Sundays they have a hard time finding old friends and barely recognize most of the people sitting around them. The bulletin is full of classes and activities, but most will cut into their desire to keep their schedule open, free and spontaneous, so they don’t want to commit. They lament their lost sense of community and feel that their church has become too big and impersonal.

Scenario 6: Francesca’s days are full and busy balancing a part time job, a baby and a toddler. There’s nothing she enjoys more than having a few minutes at the end of the day to unwind and enjoy a glass of wine with her husband when he gets home from work. At first, it’s a treat they look forward to on Fridays as a celebration for the end of the week. Over time, they begin cracking open a bottle mid-week when the day has been especially crazy. Evenings just seem easier to manage after a cold glass of Chardonnay. One week, Francesca’s husband is away on business and she finds herself counting the minutes until she puts the kids to bed. That evening as she enjoys a glass of wine on the couch, a friend calls to check in. Francesca jokes with her, “Do you know what’s the most expensive thing about having kids?” “What?” Her friend asks, innocently. “All the wine!” She laughs into the phone. She is surprised when her friend is silent on the other end of the line.

Scenario 7: Mike has a huge servant’s heart. There is nothing that brings him greater joy than meeting the needs of others. Over the years he’s served in a variety of capacities at church and in the community—serving as an elder, working on a long-term missions project in the inner-city, heading up outreach for Men’s Ministries, teaching 5^th grade Sunday School and more. Lately, Mike has become so busy serving that he feels exhausted and lacks some of his usual joy. Getting out of bed for worship on a Sunday mornings is daunting after serving all day at the inner-city mission every Saturday. Waking up early to spend time with God daily or attending the Men’s Bible study once a week seem like luxuries he can’t afford.

Scenario 8: Kari loves her kids and wants to see them develop their potential. Whether it’s out on the soccer field, in the dance studio, in an after school class or at piano lessons, she’s determined to give them every opportunity available. Afternoons are crazy as she drives carpools, helps with homework and takes care of the household. With three active kids, she rarely has time for the things she says she values like spending time with friends and studying the Bible. Weekends are full of activities for the whole family and when they aren’t up early for a sports game, the family loves nothing more than sleeping late on Sundays. Kari is proud of her kids and all that they’ve accomplished, but sometimes she worries that they don’t care much about attending youth group or other church activities. She finds solace by deciding they’ll have more time for that later, when they’re older. Besides, they’re so busy with all of the activities, they don’t have time to get into trouble or run with the “wrong crowd” anyway.

Scenario 9: Josh loves sports- whether it’s watching, playing or coaching. His car radio is pre-set for every sports talk show he can find. He loves to watch Sports Center at night and spends his breakfast poring over the sports pages. He knows practically every statistic from every major sporting event in a given season. He arranges weekends around his Saturday golf game and Sunday football games on TV. He’s willing to go to church with his wife most of the time. He even agrees to go to a special men’s event at church when a well-known sports figure is speaking. During the talk, the speaker quotes a verse from Joshua, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you maybe careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Josh can think of a lot of things he meditates on during the week, but none of them involve the stuff the speaker is talking about. He’s disappointed the guy didn’t focus on his sports career more in his speech.

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Idols give us a false sense of security, comfort or self-worth. Often the things that become idols in our lives start out being something good. There is nothing wrong with exercising, socializing, traveling or volunteering. However, when they govern our decision-making processes or have authority in our lives that is higher than God, they can become idols.

If you see a glimmer of yourself in one or more of these scenarios, please consider praying about it and asking God what changes He might be calling you to make. Remember, the goal here is to prevent ourselves from ending up like Gideon, who created an idol that had enough ties to his Jewish faith that he felt justified having it. Erosion happens slowly over time, like the tree in the picture.

If you see a glimmer of someone you love in one of the scenarios above, let me caution you against appointing yourself as a personal holy spirit for that person. Rather than having him/ her read the scenario, commit to praying for the person and the possible idol you see in his/ her life. Wait to see if God gives you an opportunity to have an honest conversation when the time is right.

Personally, I’d like to end the study of Gideon on a high note. I want to be cognizant of the potential idols in my life and to recognize that my weakness is a platform for God’s strength. Here are a few ideas on how to keep the potential idols in our lives at bay:

-Make it a priority to spend time with God in prayer every day

-Read the Bible daily

-Be intentional about studying the Bible with others

-Be aware of our weak points and ask for accountability and prayer support

-Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-4 regularly and be open to what God reveals:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Your Weakness Lets God’s Strength Shine Through

I started teaching high school at the tender age of 23– only five years after graduating from high school myself. Being a new teacher was hard. What made matters worse was that I looked like I could’ve been one of the students. I decided that the best way to gain respect was to hide my weaknesses and insecurities. I thought the students and parents would look down on me if I didn’t appear to have all the answers and everything “together” all the time. Even among the other faculty members, I felt wary about sharing struggles. I spent a lot of time compensating for my weaknesses and trying to cover them up. That year I found myself in the staff lounge bathroom from time to time crying my eyes out over some difficulty I was facing. Too proud to admit the truth, I’d blame my red, watery eyes on “allergies” if anyone approached me with concern for my wellbeing.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that admitting weaknesses is not only healthy and human– it’s also biblical. To think I can do things on my own without God is simply foolish pride. Maybe that’s why the story of Gideon appeals to me so much. There’s no doubt he was weak. He didn’t have the credentials needed to engage in battle against a formidable enemy—and that is exactly why God chose him.

Another reason I like Gideon is that he needed reassurance from God several times before he acted. Just before entering battle against the Midianites with his puny army of 300, God blessed Gideon with the chance to overhear a Midianite soldier talking with his tent mate about a dream he had. When Gideon overheard the dream and learned the men feared him and the army of Israel, he was greatly encouraged. The story below picks up just after this in Judges 7:15-21.

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.

I love imagining the sound of the shattering pottery and the shouts of the soldiers. I can just picture the shimmering light produced by the flames of 300 torches strategically placed in a circle on the hills surrounding the Midianite camp. The small band of soldiers had been too far apart to see one another as they waited in the dark for the signal. Imagine their triumph at the sound of the trumpet and the lights they all held high in the darkness.

These men did not fight with the traditional weapons of battle, yet God used their uncommon weapons to achieve a stunning victory. On paper, nothing about their plan worked from a worldly perspective- they didn’t have the manpower or the tools to achieve victory, but they had God on their side.

“The weaknesses we often despise are required for the light of Christ to be seen and for the darkness around us to be dispelled. Without the limitations and deficiencies of our vessels, we would not serve our purpose well. Your weakness is not a liability. It is one of your greatest assets. God’s presence and power are best seen when our large, impressive personalities aren’t getting in the way. So welcome His light into your weakness, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!” (Priscilla Shirer, Gideon, p. 125)

So, how does this look for those of us living in the 21^st century? First and foremost, we need to recognize our weaknesses and realize they need to be surrendered to God.

For me, the process of seeing my weaknesses took quite a while. Throughout my teens and twenties, I struggled with insecurity. I’d grown so accustomed to it that I just assumed it was a part of who I was. Never once had I considered asking God to use it for His glory. I did my best to compensate for it in many ways- whether by trying to achieve more academically, to wear the “right” clothes, to associate with the “right” people or to hold positions of power and respect. While none of these things were necessarily “bad,” none of them helped to alleviate my insecurity. (Thus, the crying in the bathroom when I was a new teacher). Sadly, my compensating made me more intimidating and less approachable as I tried harder and harder to be “perfect” so that I would feel more secure.

It was not until after I had kids and participated in my first Beth Moore Bible study that I ever realized insecurity was a weakness I could submit to God. As I began to pray about it, God started to change me. He didn’t miraculously remove it from my life, but He used it to make me more sensitive to others. I began realizing that insecurity is a pervasive issue in our culture and that many women struggle with it. God showed me many ways Satan uses it to keep women from connecting with one another because they feel too threatened and intimidated. Insecurity prevents many of us from living into the people God is calling us to be. It causes us to put up unhealthy facades that prevent authentic connection. It renders our gifts useless and often leaves us feeling like outsiders with nothing to offer. Few Bible teachers address this issue, so it remains a silent struggle for many.

I still remember the first time I admitted that I battled with insecurity publically. I’d been asked to sit on a panel of women at our weekly Focused Living Bible Study. Each panelist was asked to share about an area in her life where she needed God’s intervention on a regular basis. I had a “safe” answer prepared in my head, but when the microphone was handed to me, I horrified myself by blurting out “I struggle with insecurity.” My face was red and my hands were shaking as I passed the microphone on to the next panelist. Inside, I was kicking myself for being so vulnerable.

To my surprise, when the panel ended several women made a beeline for me and thanked me for sharing aloud what they‘d been struggling with for years. Each woman thought she was the only one. When I let my clay vessel crack open and I exposed my weakness, the light of God’s love used my honesty to encourage others. The weakness I’d been hiding and trying to compensate for in a variety of ways became the very thing God used to make me more authentic, approachable and encouraging to others with similar struggles.

Whether or not we like to admit it, we’re all just simple clay vessels like those earthen pots the soldiers carried to battle. Your weaknesses may be different from mine, but you have something God can use for His glory, if only you’ll surrender it to Him. With the Holy Spirit living within us, God can use our weaknesses to shine His light to a dark world in desperate need of a Savior.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, ”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Click on the link below to hear Matthew West’s song “Strong Enough,” to be reminded that God’s strength trumps your weakness.

Click on the link below to hear Josh Wilson’s “Pushing Back the Dark.” You’ll be inspired to give your weaknesses to God and to watch how He uses them to shine His light to the world through you!

It Never Hurts to Ask

I’m generally a rule-follower by nature. I don’t like to ruffle feathers or make requests that inconvenience people. I don’t like to draw attention to myself. I’m not particularly dramatic. In the last few years, however, I’ve started getting a bit more courageous about taking risks and making requests. A new phrase has been finding its way into my vocabulary: “It never hurts to ask.” My husband chuckled at my newfound courage a few months ago as I loaded two giant resin pots into the back of our car. We’d owned them less than a year and they were already starting to fall apart due to sun damage. I figured it was worth asking for our money back. “It never hurts to ask,” I told my husband. If they said “no,” we weren’t any worse off than we were before. I lugged the pots into the store and politely explained the problem to the woman at the return counter. She took one look at the cracking and sun-bleached pots and gave me a store credit equal to their value. That night, I proudly showed my husband the gift card I’d gotten. “See? This will pay for two new ones. I told you, it never hurts to ask!”

Apparently, Gideon had a similar thought when he boldly asked God to show him a tangible sign that He was calling him into battle against the Midianites. Here is the story from Judges 6:36-40.

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Priscilla Shirer’s contention in Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength is that once Gideon finds the fleece and the ground exactly as he asked, he begins to doubt. Gideon wonders if he’s mistaken because the ground would naturally dry faster than the absorbent fleece. So, he risks asking God for a second sign of confirmation. This time, he requests that God make the ground wet and the fleece dry. In His infinite patience, God grants Gideon’s second request.

Priscilla points out that Gideon had been heavily influenced by the predominant “religion” of Baalism. “The universe, a Baalist would subscribe, was self-sustaining, with no eternal Being actively involved in supporting and maintaining it. While they believed it possible to stimulate or manipulate nature/Baal to respond in a certain way, they firmly believed that the world and its happenings were independent of God’s involvement. This made the personal, intimate relationship that Yahweh offered to Gideon contrary to his Baal-instructed mind. He had never felt a need to pray for certain things, because the processes that nature put in place were set and could not be altered” (Gideon, p. 111).

Priscilla then turns the tables and makes this personal: “consider how many things we don’t take to God in prayer because we’ve grown accustomed to the usual processes we experience daily… Even God’s people have been duped into believing that either He will not really do anything on our behalf or that He doesn’t need to because certain things just happen anyway” (Gideon, p. 112).

The book of James echoes this sentiment: “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives… Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:2b, 3a, 8a).

Last week I heard a story from a friend. It shows the contrast between asking God to intervene and assuming natural processes will just run their course. A few years ago, my friend’s uncle found himself in the Emergency Room with crushing chest pain. He was told that he needed to have emergency open-heart surgery to repair a dissected aorta. The prognosis was grim. Doctors predicted he had mere hours to live if he didn’t have the surgery and preparations were quickly made to begin. My friend and her family members gathered in the waiting room and began praying. Her stepfather, who was a surgeon, was granted permission to observe the surgery. As he stood in the operating room and watched the surgeons work, the situation looked dire. He decided to go out and give family members the sad update. As he rounded the corner to the waiting room, he found the family sitting in a circle deep in prayer. Not a man of the same faith, he made a hasty retreat, deciding he preferred the grim scene in the operating room to the prayer circle in the waiting room. As he re-entered the surgery, he was shocked to discover the doctors completing a full repair on the aorta. Miraculously, they’d been able to salvage enough tissue to suture it back together. The doctors were incredulous and my friend’s stepfather could hardly believe what he was seeing. In fact, the heart surgeon calls her uncle his “miracle patient” to this day. My friend’s stepfather had just accepted that there was little hope for the uncle. Seeing his family members praying in the waiting room had seemed like a vain and foolish attempt to ward off the inevitable. How wrong he was.

My friend’s uncle has gone on to live for thirteen more years. He’s had a rich and full life and has been blessed to watch his youngest daughter marry and to be a part of the lives of his three grandchildren. And all because his family members refused to give up hope and trusted God to intervene.

Are there things in life you’ve just accepted without even considering praying about them? Are you plodding through life not even thinking of the ways God could intervene in your circumstances if you asked Him? Maybe it’s a spouse or family member whose heart seems totally hardened toward God. Maybe it’s a child you lock horns with daily. Maybe it’s your health. Maybe it’s a broken relationship that won’t seem to heal. Maybe it’s a hidden addiction. Maybe it’s the ongoing struggle that you’re tired of fighting against depression, anxiety, loneliness or insecurity. Maybe it’s financial distress. Or maybe, you’re tired of just surviving and you long to be thriving in a fuller, richer, more passionate life.

Whatever it is, there is nothing that we cannot bring to God in prayer. He delights in invitations for Him to move and work in our lives. We can’t necessarily tell God how to work something out, but we can grow through the act of praying and drawing near to Him. Sometimes prayer changes our circumstances, sometimes it changes our perspectives. Sometimes it changes both. One thing is for sure- it never hurts to ask.

Do you have a story of God’s intervention in a situation that others assumed was “just the way it is?” Take time to comment so that others can be encouraged by it and God can receive the praise.

God Margin: When God’s 300 is Greater Than the Enemy’s 135,000

2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. –Judges 7:2-8, 12

I love the story of Gideon because he had no choice but to trust God and to watch how His plan would unfold to rescue the children of Israel from the Midianites. “If anything was going to be the downfall of these people, it wouldn’t be Midian; it would be Israel’s pride. So God purposefully, lovingly stripped down Gideon’s army to the bare bones, leaving them no choice but to rely on Yahweh for victory” (Gideon by Priscilla Shirer, p. 76).

In case you need a refresher, here it is: Gideon was called by God to lead the Israelites in defeating the Midianites who had been oppressing them. God wanted to be sure that there was no question among the Israelites about who was responsible for their victory, so He whittled the Israelite army down from 32,000 men to 300. “Thus, God minimized pride’s chances of taking credit for a victory” (Gideon, p. 75).

I’ve been struggling to write this blog—not because I can’t identify with this story, but because too many different examples in my own life come to mind. In the past year, I’ve seen the truth of Gideon’s story over and over again. Priscilla Shirer says “we need not see our weaknesses as repulsive, but as helpful in developing our continued dependence on God” (p. 76). When we lay our weaknesses at God’s feet and admit we can’t handle things on our own, He steps in to do some of His best work.

One of the places I feel my weakness most is when I watch someone I love struggling. Over the course of the last several years, I stood by while my husband become progressively more discouraged at work. It was like a heavy weight that burdened him all the time, consuming his thoughts and robbing his joy. Finally, we reached a point last winter when he hit an all time low. He felt stuck—unable to make a change for a variety of valid reasons, yet struggling with the thought of continuing where he was. One night as we sat on the couch having yet another conversation about it I said, “We need to be praying about this more consistently. I’m going to ask God to change either your circumstances or your perspective.” My husband answered, “I don’t really see how either one is going to change, but I guess it can’t hurt to try.” We prayed for months and nothing seemed to be happening

In late spring, his discouragement plummeted even lower. The subject of his job dominated our conversations. We talked for hours on end and reached the same conclusion every time- prayer was our best and only real option. At one point, I remember saying: “I can’t wait to see how God shows up. The more impossible the situation seems to us, the more obvious it is that He’s at work.”

A few weeks later, my husband got an unexpected phone call from a company who was looking to fill a new position. It was a unique opportunity at a place he’d ruled out for a variety of reasons. He entered into dialogue with the company cautiously, but with a glimmer of hope. A series of meetings and interviews over the summer caused a roller coaster of emotions in our household. There were several major obstacles that seemed insurmountable. We continued to pray and ask God whether this opportunity was what He had planned for my husband. With each step of the process, God stripped away anything that would cause us to believe we were in control. We tried hard to keep the right perspective. We wanted to put our hope in God and not in this particular job opportunity.

In late summer my husband was officially offered the job. We’d been praying for peace and clarity and when he received the offer, we knew what he had to do. He turned it down. Although he wanted to work there, neither of us felt peace with the terms of employment. Although it was disappointing, we knew it would be obvious when God was giving us the green light. We truly believed He had something else in store, even if it meant waiting longer.

To our amazement, the company came back the next day and responded to every one of my husband’s specific concerns. Each issue we’d prayed for throughout the summer was addressed clearly and decisively. All of the reservations he’d had were resolved and we both felt peace. There was no explanation other than God’s hand at work.

Priscilla Shirer calls it “God Margin.” She says “it’s the space that exists between your skills and resources and what God can accomplish (Gideon Session 3 video).

My husband started his new job last week. He has a spring in his step and a sparkle in his eye that’s been missing for quite a while. When people ask about the new job, he says, “It’s been overwhelmingly positive. I’m truly humbled by the way God has worked.” His joy doesn’t come from his new company, but from the blessing of trusting God and watching Him work in ways that were beyond anything we could have imagined. God did change my husband’s circumstances, but He also changed his perspective and reminded him that our true hope never faltered.

There is nothing unique about our story—we all have opportunities for “God Margin” in our lives regularly. When we acknowledge our weaknesses and offer them up to God, we get to see how He’ll use them for His glory.

I encourage you to commit your seemingly “hopeless” situation to God and wait for Him to reveal Himself in the midst of it. Keep in mind, however– God rarely does things according to our plans. Give Him lots of room to work in His way and His time frame instead of telling Him how you want it resolved.

If you already have a good “God Margin” story to share, please post a comment below.

For more encouragement, click on the link below to hear Matt Maher’s song “Lord, I Need You.” It’s a great reminder to find your strength in God throughout every day.

Spiritual Eyes

I’m in a serious state of denial. I think I’m reaching that “certain age” where mature adults finally admit that they need a little boost with their vision. Somehow, I can’t bring myself to make the trip to the store to buy a pair of reading glasses. I guess it just makes me feel “old.” (If you wear reading glasses, please don’t take that personally, it’s my silly little issue). So, I’ve been compensating by using larger font sizes, squinting, or sneaking to put on my husband’s readers when no one is looking. He came home from work the other day and caught me by surprise as I was writing at the computer. As I turned to greet him, he laughed and said: “You’re busted!!” I’d forgotten to take off his reading glasses. It was a funny, albeit humbling, moment.

I’ve been thinking about vision a lot lately and realizing that besides our physical eyes, God has also given us “spiritual eyes.” And just like my physical vision is in need of a “boost,” we need to give our “spiritual eyes” a boost by asking God to open them for us. I think many people spend a lifetime in spiritual blindness, missing out on all that God is doing in the world around them. I don’t want to be one of those people.

Two of my favorite stories about spiritual vision come from opposite ends of the Bible. One is in 2 Kings 6 and the other is in the book of Acts.

The story in 2 Kings 6:8-23 is about the prophet Elisha. God has given him the divine ability to know the movements of Israel’s enemies in advance so that the Israelites can defend themselves. Verse 10 says, “Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.” Elisha’s ability to discern the enemies’ plans enraged them, so they decided to try and capture him. As the soldiers surrounded the city to close in on Elisha, his servant went into a panic: “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked.”

Elisha responds with complete confidence: “Don’t be afraid… Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

How cool is that? One minute the servant is quaking in his sandals and the next he sees God’s holy army completely surrounding the enemy and protecting Elijah and him. They were there all the time–he just didn’t have the eyes to see them.

The New Testament “vision” story I love takes place in Acts 9 when Saul is converted on the road to Damascus. As he is on his way to persecute Christians, he encounters a blinding light from heaven accompanied by the voice of Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Jesus then gives Saul instructions to go to the city and find a specific disciple who will tell him what to do. With the help of his companions, the blinded Saul travels to Damascus where he follows Jesus’ instructions. He meets with a disciple named Ananias, who Jesus sends to heal Saul. Ananias lays his hands on Saul saying “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” The text says: “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”

I love that Saul’s physical sight was restored and that the Holy Spirit opened his spiritual eyes at the same time. I love the instant change that occurred in Saul and that his first action was to get baptized as a believer. From that moment on, his entire mission in life went from persecuting Christians to sharing the Good News of Christ.

I wonder, sometimes, if we need to pray for God to open our spiritual eyes a bit wider. Are there things we’re missing because we’ve stopped staying in tune with the Spirit? Are we getting apathetic and failing to look in wonder on God’s creation all around us? Maybe we’ve lost our spiritual eyes to see a world crying out for compassion. Do we realize that the same spiritual army that surrounded Elisha and his servant is at our beck and call? Do we even recognize spiritual battles when they crop up?

I like the way Priscilla Shirer says it: “As believers, our spiritual eyes must detect God’s presence. Once this happens, the opportunity unfolds for us to understand our calling and the vast inheritance we’ve been given to accomplish the tasks before us” (Gideon p.44).

I think it’s challenging to have spiritual eyes in our western culture. We pride ourselves on self-sufficiency. We like to make things safe, comfortable and easy. We have contingency plans and back up scenarios for everything. We’re anesthetizing ourselves constantly with mindless entertainment. We all run the risk of being lulled into letting our vision get fuzzy- kind of like my denial over needing reading glasses (yes, I am wearing my husband’s readers as I type this).

The more I write, the more it reminds me of Gideon’s community. People had lost sight of who God was. They had forgotten His power and His miracles. They stopped worshipping Him and were influenced into worshipping the gods of those in the cultures around them. And it happened in just one generation.

I don’t know about you, but reading that makes me want to ask the Spirit to sharpen my spiritual eyesight. I want to discern where I’m growing lukewarm and letting our world direct my steps instead of God. My prayer through Gideon is “Give me eyes to see you God.”

How about you? Is it time for a spiritual vision check? Time to see where things have gotten a little fuzzy? Are there places where God is opening your eyes in new ways? Make a comment below and tell us about it.

Finally, check out the three attached videos. Each one deals with a slightly different aspect of our “spiritual vision.”

Chris Tomlin’s “Whom Shall I Fear” will focus your “spiritual vision” on God’s hand of protection that surrounds you at all times.

Brandon Heath’s “Give Me Your Eyes” will fix your gaze on God’s heart of compassion and the ways He’s calling you to engage others.

Josh Wilson’s “Behind the Beauty” will remind you to see every aspect of creation as an opportunity to praise God for His incredible handiwork.

Accessing the Power of the Spirit

If you’ve read any of my posts in the past year, you know that I love to mountain bike. God seems to speak to me as I climb hills, pick my way through rocky spots and roll through shifting soil. I’ve been riding for quite a few years without any major incidents. There has been a minor crash or two, but nothing too serious.

Until this past summer, I’d never even gotten a flat tire. And then, in the span of a few weeks, I got two. Both times I was out on an early morning ride with a close girlfriend when I realized I’d run over a thorn and was losing air fast. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I’d never learned to change a flat (my only consolation was that she didn’t know either). Our solution was to leave in the thorn to plug the hole and pump the tire back up. I’d ride my bike as far as I could until the tire was too flat, then we’d stop and repeat the whole process. Both times, I made it home with only a minor amount of walking after I’d parted ways with her. Here’s the worst part, though. In my “Camelbak” (a small backpack that holds water), I had a patch kit, a new tube and tire irons. The problem was, I had no idea how to use them.

Years ago my husband lovingly placed all the needed tools to change a flat into my “Camelbak” so that I’d be prepared in an emergency. The one thing we’d never taken time to do was make sure I knew how to use them. I’ll admit it– I’m spoiled and let him do about 95% of my bike maintenance (I pump up the tires and hose it off when it’s muddy, that’s about it).

After my second flat, I called my husband. “I think it’s time for me to learn how to change a tire.”

That night, he gave me a lesson. I wasn’t 100% confident in my abilities, however I at least knew the basics.

A few days later my husband and I went for a ride. We’d been on the trail for about 20 minutes when I noticed my front tire going flat. It was my third thorn of the summer after going years without a flat. Very frustrating.

We pulled out our tools and I was actually somewhat helpful as my husband found the leak and repaired it with a patch. So instead of turning around and limping my way home with a deflating tire that continually needed air, we were able to finish our ride and enjoy a sunny summer afternoon.

I’d had the tools on every ride– the difference was that now I knew how to use them. Even better, I had someone there to help me.

Riding home I started thinking about the study we just started on Gideon. In Week One of Priscilla Shirer says:

“Like it or not, spiritual warfare exists. We may never take up arms with a shield and sword like Gideon, but we are no less in a battle every day. We know it. We feel it. Victory requires constant effort to take ‘every thought captive to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Cor. 10:5). By God’s Spirit, we can be successful—the same way the judges were” (p. 31).

She then asks three penetrating questions:

1. “Does the enemy have to think twice about his schemes against your family because of your watchful presence?”

2. “Do the enemy’s attempts become quickly thwarted because you are alert and prayerful?”

3. “Are you on guard and aware of the spiritual nature behind physical events in your life?”

I’ll translate her questions a different way to connect to my story:

Do we have the tools we need but fail to us them?

Or how about this:

Do we have the tools but not know how to use them?

God has given us his Word and the Holy Spirit–two incredibly powerful “tools” in our “Spiritual Camelbaks.” But, have we taken the time to learn about them and how to use them?

Ephesians 6:10-18 is probably the most well-known passage relating to spiritual warfare:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Take a look at verse 17. Do you see it? The sword of the Spirit is the word of God! Knowing God’s word and relying on the Spirit are our best offensive weapons.

Priscilla Shirer puts it this way: “Our goal must be to flesh out the truths of God’s Word, open ourselves to His activity in our daily lives, learn from those who are doing it well, and seek to inspire others through our example” (p. 35).

Time spent studying the Bible is time well spent. Time spent studying it consistently with others is even better. Asking God to fill you to overflowing with His Spirit is the best way to meet spiritual attack.

And just like my husband was there to teach me how to use my tools and to help me out on the trail when I got my flat, the Holy Spirit is always there with us once we’ve accepted Christ as our Savior. When we’re involved in a Bible Study with others, we have them to help us along the way too. Pray and invite more of His Presence into your life. Pray that God will open your eyes so that you can see where He is at work. Then, sit back and enjoy the ride.

The Rest of Faith

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Idols Erode a Firm Foundation

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Spiritual Eyes

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Accessing the Power of the Spirit

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