Read Judges 5 – 7
And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. Judges 6:11 KJV
In verses 11-17 we are introduced to a prayer of Gideon; it provides some realizations necessary for the kind of prayer that brings hope in difficult times. (1) The realization of God’s presence. The first words of God’s messenger were, “The Lord is with you.” That makes all the difference doesn’t it? (2) The need to bring our cares to God. In verse 13 Gideon responded, “If the Lord was with him then why was life so difficult?” Sometimes we are hesitant to express ourselves to God fearing it shows disrespect, but God actually wants us to bring our concerns to Him. (3) The consciousness of God’s gaze; it says the Lord looked upon Him; God fixed His eyes on Gideon. I feel better knowing God has His eyes fixed on me. (4) The recognition of our own insufficiency. As long as we think we are something when we are not, then our circumstances will always prove otherwise.
Lord, Gideon needed a sign from you to prove you were with him when his interaction with you should have been enough, help me mature to the place where I need no signs.
