Staying Faithful During the Faithless Times.

 

As I read my bible and allow the Word to become a vision of what the author is trying to tell me in the books written, I realize this….many mentioned in the bible experienced at least one time a faithless state of mind. But here’s what we need to realize: They ended with great faith.

 

Gideon was recently spoken about at the church I attend. Although I have read the Book of Judges many times during bible study, I received a new revelation about Gideon.

 

The Pastor examined the background of Gideon and brought it forth beautifully. Made me realize how much we have in common with Gideon as people that are called by God.

 

When He Calls us

 

When we hear the calling of the Lord upon our lives, we may try to persuade ourselves to think its not God calling. That it is possibly of our own imagination, and so thought Gideon.

 

“So Gideon said to him, “If now if I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You that speak to me. ” Judges 6:17.

 

And God did. He brought fire upon the meat and unleavened bread that He requested for Gideon to prepare for Him. Just like Gideon, we ask God to show us if it is Him that is speaking to us. And because He is God, He does.

 

He gives us instructions so He can show us what He wants us to see that will be in accordance with what God has called us for. But do we follow the instructions to see the entirety of what we need to see?

 

Gideon’s obedience of following the Lords instruction to prepare the food so that He can consume it with fire allowed him to personally witness the capabilities of God. But if Gideon had missed the simple instruction he would have missed the miracle that he had requested.

 

Understanding that we are part of the miracle we ask from God by completing the instructions He has asked from us will lead us to a greater understanding of what obedience is.

Related posts: 

12 Prayer Prompts for the Spiritual Warrior

What would happen if I pray out loud?

Spiritually cleaning your home.

Are you willing to do what others won’t? 

 

Some of us probably wonder why we live in such a faithless time (besides from what the Word of God tells us what to expect). We see more unbelievers than we do believers in todays times. Its all over the media, communities, and even our states legislation but who is actually praying to see a powerful movement?

To see a great change, we need the called people to not just look around and wonder what is happening but to get up and do your calling for Him. Share on X

Gideon lived in a home with his father that worshipped idols. The first thing God asked Gideon to do was to destroy those idols and every standing thing that did not represent Him. Gideon’s task was to put them all into a fire so it will all be consumed for no more use. Because he was afraid, Gideon did this at night.

 

“Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his fathers household and of the men of the city to do it by day, he did it at night.” Judges 6:27

 

He may not have walked up into his house and did it with his head up high and with a powerful esteem as we would have expected him to do but he did it! He was willing to do something his father was not.

 

When God requests from us to do some things to get to a victorious result, we may be nervous, worried, even fearful, but will you take your mind back to the request, seek His strength and peace, and do it for His glory?

 

Keeping the Faith

 

In many situations of my life I have requested for God to show me who He is. I have requested for prayers to be answered. To give me signs if I was going to get a job promotion I was desiring. Or a sign to let me know if my husband was truly the man I was supposed to marry (I was so much in love that I was scared I was going to marry on my own emotions. I wanted God to lead us into marriage, not us.)

 

I have also cried out to the Lord in fear and frustration to change a situation IMMEDIATELY as I had watched our son at 3 months old on a breathing tube after an extensive emergency surgery.

 

Some request common, some not so much but I think we can all agree we have all come to the Lord about expectations of situations in our lives.

 

Gideon did the same as he was going forward with the task that the Lord requested from him to deliver Israel. (Which is a PRETTY BIG task).

 

“Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now only be dry on the fleece, let there be dew all on the ground”. God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece and dew was all on the ground.” Judges 6:39-40

 

We may ask God to show Himself to us with specifications and that’s ok, because it  reminds us we do have faith that He hears us. It shows faith that we know He will respond to us and leads us. We are confident that we will see an end result!

 

God knows our hearts and as long as your are NOT testing Him (which the bible says NOT to do) then seeking Him to show Himself; is faith in works. So, keep the Faith! If you do, you will see yourself walking in your calling. When you do that you set an example to others about your faithfulness during the faithless times.

 

Your example will encourage another to walk in their calling. God is looking for the ones that will be faithful during these faithless times.

 

(All references in this post came Judges 6 New American Standard Version. To read more on Gideon, read chapters 5-7)