Have you ever wished that God would speak to you face-to-face so you could know what to do? Doesn't that sound like it would make serving and obeying God much easier? Well, that's not necessarily true that a direct encounter would be a good thing. To prove my point, let's take another look at Gideon, whose life we began to study last week.
CAN WE TALK?
One day Gideon was busy trying to eke out a living when the Lord appeared and spoke to him:
What was Gideon's response? Was he in awe and didn't know what to say? Did he worship? Did he ask the Lord what He wanted him to do? No, he did none of those things. Instead he basically said, "Can we talk?" Gideon took the opportunity to complain and tell the Lord how bad things were in his life!
Gideon had a direct word and appearance from the Lord, but he was so preoccupied with his situation that he didn't treat it like the special event that it was. Then the Lord revealed why He had come and what He wanted Gideon to do:
Again, Gideon turned God's directive into a time to complain, telling the Lord why he, Gideon, could not be the one to do what the Lord was saying.
IT DIDN'T MATTER
It didn't matter to Gideon that he received a direct word from the Lord. He was so hung up on his circumstances and limitations that he could not see how God could use him. A visit from God almost turned into a bad experience for Gideon.
I am sure you have never done what Gideon did in this instance, but if you have, can you see that even a visitation from God isn't always the answer to your spiritual inactivity? Once you have a negative attitude, you can't even hear from the Lord! So this week, put yourself in Gideon's place and ask the Lord if you are acting like Gideon in any area of your life. If you are, then find out what God has been saying that you just can't hear because of your heart attitude. The good news is that Gideon went on from this encounter with the Lord to do great things and you will, too. Have a great week!
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THE SOPHIA FUND & THE DEBORAH FOUNDATION. I announced today a new initiative in time for Christmas that will allow you to help me open learning centers all over Kenya. We will start small, but will deliberately work to help the orphans in Kenya learn how to love books and learning. You can paly an important part in making this happen. To read all about it, go to my blog to see my latest post or go to my Facebook page. I need books and educational toys and I need you to help me get them. I will figure out a way to get them to Kenya. You just figure out a way to get them to me.
I also need help to continue feeding the orphans and widows there from The Sophia Fund. When you do your Christmas shopping and giving this year, please remember The Sophia Fund and The Deborah Foundation. I know you will be blessed when you do.
I have been confronting this very issue in my own life lately. My heart is being turned again to hear and follow the Lord. My time and energies have previously been consumed in the role family provider to the exclusion of service to the Lord. Now I find myself unemployed, But I hear the Lord saying "Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." The difficulty I am having is knowing what seeking the kingdom of God means for me particularly while staring at a pile of unpaid bills with no income. I am willing and active but I don't have clear direction. I'm just doing what seems right for the moment.
Posted by: Marshall Seaborn | October 12, 2009 at 08:52 AM
When you sit in the darkness( as you feel now) the Lord will shine a light for you.Micah 7:8.
I have seen him shine a light at a time that I sat in the darkness.Be encouraged.God is faithful, he an see your unpaid bills and yet he says' seek first the kingdom......'
Posted by: Rhoda | October 12, 2009 at 11:44 AM