More Recall

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. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.' That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew." Judges 6:36-40

Laying out the fleece...visual reminders...that's what we were talking about yesterday.  By now I am sure you have already been thinking of things.  Most of us have probably done this anyway at one time or another. We have all asked for signs and confirmations that our prayers have been heard. Doesn't it feel amazing when those signs appear - when we see that Covenant Transport truck, or get that rhema word, or God sends us a messenger with good news. God does make His covenant known to us.  We must ask Him. How great is our faith when the fleece is wet and the ground is dry!

For some of you, there has been an absence of signs. Circumstances remain the same day after day and there has been no change one way or the other for a very long time. Yet still we have faith because we know that we know that we know what God has promised us. And we can continue to stand and continue to walk because we know Who it is that walks beside us. Yes, we still have faith, even when the fleece is dry.  Why is the fleece dry when we wish it were wet...we wish we knew!  But that is where faith is key.

A deeper level of faith is part of this journey. This is the faith that looks at the impossible circumstances in our lives through the promises of God. This is where you pull out your Bible and find those promises and just hold on tightly. This is the faith that stands against the giant and swings the sling. This is the faith that looks at that Jericho Wall and shouts it down. This is the faith that parts the Red Sea and stops up the waters of the Jordan so that we can cross on dry land. This is the faith that brings a husband home that said he was done. This is the faith that shuts the mouths of hungry lions.  All reasoning says it's not going to happen.  Friends say it's not worth it.  Family says you have tried hard enough.  THIS is DEEPER FAITH....

God has given us authority over the enemies in our lives. We need to dig down deep and find this kind of strength when our faith is wavering and our hope is gone. We need to go deeper into God's Word and stand more firmly on His strength than we ever have before. We need to see with the eyes of our heart. We need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and off the circumstances around us. We need to walk by faith and not by sight.

One story that our family definitely likes is one found in Judges 4. The faith of Deborah and the action of Jael--women obedient despite the circumstances. The Israelites had failed to drive the Canaanites out of the land; Jabin and his commander, Sisera were oppressing them. They had 900 chariots and Israel could have no hope of defeating an army with this kind of power. Yet Deborah stepped in as a leader for Israel, to stand in the gap for them, and she prayed to God for her people. When the time came Jael was also obedient; she stepped in and did what needed to be done. Read the story...it's incredibly heroic.   Both of these women knew what it was to step up and be obedient, even at the cost of being rejected.

Women, during this time, were NOT commonly in a place of authority or of war.  Deborah experienced success because she refused to look at the circumstances around her. She found that faith that lives deep in our hearts; the faith that believes even when it seems impossible; the faith that perseveres despite overwhelming odds. Deborah's faith and obedience made a difference in Israel's history. When Deborah walked by that belief deep in her heart, her nation was freed from oppression.

Your faith and your prayer can make a difference for your family. Who knows what changes this kind of faith can bring? Be a Deborah - stand up and fight for your family. Be Jael and drive a tent stake in the enemies head.  Don't think about who might be watching or who might think you are wrong.  The Holy Spirit works through a willing vessel, and He can walk with us through all of it.  Allow Him to use whatever is necessary to drive the enemy OUT.  A deeper faith, despite the circumstances, is necessary during marriage.  The harder the journey, the deeper your faith. 

Josh and Serena