Excuses!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Judges 6, 7, 8
Judges 6:14 (NIV)
14 The Lord turned to [Gideon] and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Good morning!
I experienced some of the best Bible teaching I’ve ever heard last year at the Women of Faith Conference in Saint Louis, Missouri. Patsy Clairmont spoke about Gideon’s life during the Friday morning Bible study. It was so dark in the auditorium that I was unable to take good notes; yet, it would have been difficult to take my eyes off of this gifted teacher. For those of you who have never seen or heard Patsy Clairmont speak, she is a living example of what a little stick dynamite can do in the hand of a Big God. Patsy is a tiny woman, overflowing in the power of the Holy Spirit. She made Gideon come alive for all of us as she shared how the Lord moved in her life many years ago. God took someone with not a lot of physical strength or self-confidence and lifted her up to speak His Word to thousands of women all over the world. Like Gideon, Patsy struggled with fear. Gideon didn’t think he had what it would take to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon measured his clan against the other clans of Israel. He compared his body size and type to the strapping, strong warriors around him. Gideon could not understand how the Lord would possibly choose to use him in a leadership capacity. Have you ever felt like Gideon - too little and too weak to break the chains that bind and separate you from receiving complete freedom in the living God?
God’s action plan for Israel helped Gideon see that even with only three hundred faithful men, He was more than able to route the Midianites and conquer the land. The Lord may not send you into battle with what you think you need to win. Our Lord has the power to succeed, even in spite of our lame excuses. If He can prove faithfulness over and over again by turning what seems to be an impossible situation into a victory, why do we struggle so to place our complete trust in His will? Gideon hid behind his imperfections. The Lord God Almighty overcame each and every one.
Are you a Gideon? Has the Lord been calling out your name but you continue to make excuses? Stop looking at the obvious and take a leap of faith today. Place your trust in His still small voice and offer up a willing and humble heart. When you do this, the Lord will fill you up with the power of the Holy Spirit and you can become a Gideon in the battle for souls. If you have never attended a Women of Faith Conference, check out www.womenoffaith.com for a 2007 tour schedule. If you live in the Saint Louis area, the Amazing Freedom conference will be held June 15-16, 2007 at the Scotttrade Center in downtown St. Louis. Our Women of Faith from Faith Church will attend this conference together, and I invite you to come and join us! If you are interested in making a reservation for you and your girlfriends, please e-mail me at songofdeborah@hotmail. com and we will be happy to reserve your spot. I need to hear from you no later than March 31st. This is not an exclusive event to women only; men are also welcome to attend and I promise, they will be treated like royalty! Do we have a few brave men who would like to join thousands of spirit-filled women for a weekend in Saint Louis? Your ear drums and your hearts will never be the same again.
If God could take a fearful soul like Gideon and use him to free the Israelites, don’t think He can use you too?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: courage! When you hear the voice of God calling out your name, answer Him! He created you with a purpose and a plan. Won’t you trust the Lord enough to give Him your life today?
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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