The Lord wanted Gideon to do great things for HIM...but first he had to start at home: He had to put Baal in his rightful place and it did a lot for his own dad's faith...a few things stand out to me:
He obeyed God, but feared man, so he did it in the dark...
Was this because he feared they would stop him and he wouldn't be able to finish what God had called him to do?
Was he fearful for his life? I think he was...Judges 6:30 says the men came to Joash (Gideon's dad) and demanded that he bring Gideon out so they could kill him for dishonoring Baal. I love Joash's response: Let Baal defend himself!
Gideon's obedience to the Lord rejuvinated his dad's faith and I think it did the same for Gideon...the next thing you know the Spirit of the Lord comes over Gideon and he is heading up an army...of course he tests God a couple times before he goes through with anything, but I am so blessed by God's response to Gideon's lack of faith.
Lord, You are so understanding of us...You understand that we are but dust. "You choose the weak to lead the strong." That would certainly be true of me, Lord, but as you found Gideon hiding in a winepress...as you confirmed for him over and over again that You were with Him, so do for me. I want to be used by You. I want to grow. Right now I doubt. But just like I told Emily last night...We CAN know Your will. We can walk confidently.
So I'm telling You right now that I believe You will guide me to the areas You want me to develop...to sharpen...let me get past being ashamed that I'm 33 and have only come so far...You know just how weak I am, but You aren't going to leave me in the winepress. Thank You Jesus. Develop me into the leader you want me to be, the mother, wife, daughter, sister WOL Missionary and PTA memeber You want me to be...and let me never lose hold of the WHY: Your glory!!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Personal Development
Today in my quiet time I am reading about Gideon in Judges chapter 6...I have a lot of questions about this...Back in chapter 2 it says a "generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel. The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight and served the images of Baal." But when the angel of the Lord comes to Gideon and calls him a hero and tells him that the Lord is with him, Gideon's response makes it sound like his father HAD told him of all the miracles their God had done, how He had delivered them in the past...Maybe Gideon's family, although one of the "least in Manasseh" was one of the only ones who remembered what God had done...regardless, Gideon's faith is very weak and he doesn't seem to acknowledge why God would seem far away (they were doing evil in His sight).
I don't want to be too hard on Gideon. God saw potential...and that is what I pray He will help me do in the lives of my children, students and anyone He places in my life to influence. That I would see all that God can do in and through them AND speak into their lives with great confidence.
As I think on this a little further, I see myself as Gideon saw himself...I so often find myself in great need of wisdom, discernment, knowledge...and sometimes even practical common sense! and yet here is a reminder for me that God sees what HE can do through me...and HE is ready to make me who He wants me to be.
Which leads me to my second VALUE: Personal Development. This year I want to think through how I can develop in the areas God has gifted me in and called me to. In the future I would love to take a counseling course, but for now, I want to find some good books on parenting and counseling...but all the while my time alone with Him in His Word and in prayer can be great times of personal development as my ability to discern His voice and promptings becomes keener, stronger.
I want to study some of the verses that are coming to mind...I want you to lead me Lord...I want to develop the areas You want me to. I want YOU to develop me and make me effective in ministry to my kids, my husband, Danney, Julie...my sister, Aunt Sue, Angie...Oh Lord, hold me to this and develop me. Thank you that I am becoming a new creation. I love you!
I don't want to be too hard on Gideon. God saw potential...and that is what I pray He will help me do in the lives of my children, students and anyone He places in my life to influence. That I would see all that God can do in and through them AND speak into their lives with great confidence.
As I think on this a little further, I see myself as Gideon saw himself...I so often find myself in great need of wisdom, discernment, knowledge...and sometimes even practical common sense! and yet here is a reminder for me that God sees what HE can do through me...and HE is ready to make me who He wants me to be.
Which leads me to my second VALUE: Personal Development. This year I want to think through how I can develop in the areas God has gifted me in and called me to. In the future I would love to take a counseling course, but for now, I want to find some good books on parenting and counseling...but all the while my time alone with Him in His Word and in prayer can be great times of personal development as my ability to discern His voice and promptings becomes keener, stronger.
I want to study some of the verses that are coming to mind...I want you to lead me Lord...I want to develop the areas You want me to. I want YOU to develop me and make me effective in ministry to my kids, my husband, Danney, Julie...my sister, Aunt Sue, Angie...Oh Lord, hold me to this and develop me. Thank you that I am becoming a new creation. I love you!
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