The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:1-16 (day five). He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”
Gideon’s response to the Lord at first glance seems like a bunch of excuses. I guess to some degree it is. But, if you look a little deeper, what you may sense and see is that Gideon had forgotten his identity- loved by God, rescued by God, in covenant with God, accompanied by God. So, the Lord begins to remind him of his identity- I am (will be) with you. Jesus does the same thing in the New Testament to His followers- “I will never leave you or forsake you”. When God’s promised presence helps us shape our identity, we begin to find hope, courage, potential, and joy. We must first remember who He is and the promises He has made to us.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” Isaiah‬ ‭43

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:1-16 (day four)

Like many times before and many times after, when God chose a deliverer for Israel, He did not choose the most powerful, most talented warrior.  When Gideon first is introduced, he is hiding from the enemy in the wine press.  Here he is, hiding, and the angel of the Lord addresses him as a valiant warrior.  Gideon’s view of reality did not match the angel’s…he questioned first the presence of the Lord and then he questioned his own abilities.

We may be hard on Gideon for questioning the Lord, but don’t we do the same thing?  God tells us something in Scripture like ‘ask and I will hear and answer’, or ‘it is better to give than to receive’ and we manage to discount the words and reinterpret them to match our reality.  This is idolatry.  Whose reality are we going to believe…our own or God’s?  For Gideon’s part, at least he came to the point of obedience…after the Lord looked at him!

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:1-16 (day two) 

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak…vs. 11a

If we can be sure of anything in regards to how the Lord communicates, it is to look for him in any situation. Our images of messengers from heaven are likely tied directly to the Christmas story, am I right? Hillsides blazing with light and a heavenly host filling the night sky. This is how to make a heavenly visitation! If we’re not careful we miss those subtle and intimate meetings that are meant just for us. Sometimes messengers come in the heat of the day Genesis 18 . Sometimes in the most incredible part of mankind’s story, they are just sitting on a stone waiting John 20

God is definitely found in those grand and glorious gestures and moments in the Bible, but he is also the God who created the leaf, the stream, the wispy cloud; sometimes he’s sent a message that is sitting under a tree waiting to have a conversation with you. Look up, look around, and find the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day seven)

Whether we realize it or not, each one of us are leaders. God has entrusted Christians with the Gospel to be missionaries to our workplace, to our homes, to our friend groups, etc.  In these circles, we are leaders. Even if we are not the “boss” in these circles, our Christlikeness draws people to us. I expect this is similar to what Deborah experienced.

Being a woman in a patriarchal society, I doubt Deborah was looking to be a Judge for all of Israel. People came to her under her tree not because of her physical traits, but because of her Godly wisdom. She gained leadership from Godliness, and she maintained leadership from humbleness. She empowered those around her, knowing others strengths and her own limitations. She pointed all glory back to God, not on herself.  She culminates her leadership in thankfulness. Her song to the Lord is full of thanks for what He did to deliver Israel.

In your leadership circles are you exuding Christlikeness? Are you wise, humble, and thankful? People are already following your lead, where are you leading them?

Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day six)

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song. Judges 5:1

[Totally shocked Aaron didn’t jump on the opportunity to write about the song! But, I will!]

Perhaps, the most natural and powerful thing to do in light of God’s deliverance is to sing! We don’t add to God’s glory when we sing; we rejoice in it. We reflect it. Maybe that is what it means to be made in the image of God. Maybe it means we are storytellers (in how we live and speak) of God’s glory most extravagantly seen in our own deliverance.

So, remember you were designed to be a story teller. You were made to sing!

Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day five)

“She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”

“Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.”

Is there anything that will or could happen today (trips, conversations, decisions, etc.) that the Lord has not “gone before” and will not be present with you as you experience or participate in?

Deborah’s source of joy, courage, and faithfulness is found in this truth.
For those who are anxious or uncertain about today or the future… God goes before. For those who are reluctant to follow the Lord in obedience, God goes before. For those lacking joy, courage, hope, and strength, God goes before.  And from the promise of His great accompanying love, wisdom, and sovereignty, we find confidence and conviction to walk “forward”daily, serving Him with hope and joy.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day four)

Isn’t it amazing that God sometimes puts in place the elements for blessing, provision, and answered prayer before we ever are aware of our need?  Heber the Kenite had left his kinsmen and moved far from his homeland.  Most likely he had good reasons to leave and relocate, but probably never knew that it was God putting him in place so his wife could deliver Israel.

Have you ever experienced God’s provision in advance of your need?  Probably.  Have you ever considered that you might be the advanced provision for someone else’s need?  God might be using you just as He did Jael.  Jael did not get up that memorable morning knowing that she would be used of God that day in such a dramatic way.  Your plans and actions may be carefully thought out and planned according to sound logic…always remember though who is really in control!

Re:Verse passage – Judges 4:4-23, 5:7, 24-27 (day three)

“Now Heber the Kenite…had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim.”

When you and God live together within a life of love, his purpose is that all events in the universe – even the randomness that God allows – occur in such a way as to bring good to you. This actuality informed Jesus’s deep calm and confidence as he walked this earth. It fueled Paul’s courage in the face of suffering. Even seemingly unconnected occurrences form the fabric of reality that will strengthen and protect you. A decision made by Heber prior to Israel’s military campaign positioned his family’s tent in a location that would intersect Sisera’s flight from Israel’s army. Jael took care of the rest. Happenstance? Well, consider that “it just so happened” precisely because God made a universe that works for your good.