Day 6: A Promised Victory
Day six: I love when my fast takes a detour. When God impresses upon my heart someone to pray for, someone different than those I intended to. It reminds me that God is ever present. Listening. Prompting. Interceding. It’s been a hard day. My body is weak. But my spirit persists in prayer for a friend in battle. The enemy is strong. And the friend feels unprepared to face it.
Not yet. When I’m stronger. When there aren’t so many things working against me.
I agree. I would never send her into battle unprepared.
But…“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” says the Lord.
I was feeding on the Word with my children. My lips read the story of Gideon and my eyes wept knowing the story was for my friend.
Gideon, called by God and sent to battle the Midianites.
“How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest and I am the least in my family.”
He was promised victory by the Victorious One himself.
“I will be with you and will strike down all the Midianites together.”
Needing confirmation, Gideon asks for a sign that only God himself can give. It is given. Still unsure, Gideon asks for another sign. Oh how I’ve done that!
And so it is with my friend. I just have to know everything will be okay.
Again, God confirms Gideon. He is so patient with man. With his promised victory, Gideon prepares for battle, only to be weakened…by God.
God reduces Gideon’s army. Twice!
“In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her.”
Only in true weakness are we made strong with God.
Our human interpretation of a perfectly good God is that he surely would not want us to suffer. To be weak. To struggle.
But when those who suffer are delivered, God is glorified.
And when the weak are victorious, God is glorified
And when those who struggle are contented, God is glorified.
My friend, she is brave. She receives this truth with humility and marches into battle. No weapons. No armor. Just a promised victory through the God given story of Gideon.
I am not only a vessel of this truth. I need also receive it. Fasting has never taken a toll on my body. At each finish I proclaim how strong I feel. I am amazed at the way the body endures. Not this time. I am weak and tired.
I will not be able to boast that my own strength helped me endure. God alone has sustained me and I will be faithful to give him the glory.
It is God who leads us to victory!
