“God said to Gideon, “You have too many men.” Judges 7:2

Gideon’s story in the Bible’s book of Judges is worth paying attention to. Gideon had an army, 32,000 strong, ready to go up against the mighty army of Midian. Surprisingly, God tells Gideon “you have to many men”, it’s time to downsize. Over the following few verses God whittles Gideon’s army to a scant 300 men before He finally says, “that’s all you need”. What God was really saying to Gideon was,

I Am All You Need

Numbers, measured in people or in a bank account, are no match for God. Romans 8:31 says it best. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” He is all you need.

“When the Son of Man (Jesus) comes, will He really find faith in the earth?” Luke 18:8

Jesus tells a story in Luke 18 of a poor widow who day after day comes before a Judge seeking justice, and day after day she is denied. Still, the widow refuses to give up. She continues, day after day to come before the judge, believing that her pleas will prevail. Eventually, the Judge, even though he’s denied her many times before grows tired from her pleas and grants what she wants. This poor widow

Had The Faith To Not Give Up.

Jesus is using this an example of having persistence in prayer because He ends the story by saying, “when I return, will I find faith in the earth?” In other words, will I find a people believing for what they pray? Remember, Jesus also said in Mark 11:24, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe you have received it and it will be yours.”

Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

The key is not to put artificial limits on everything Jesus says to us in this statement. Of course it means eternal life with Him, but we also have an amazing purpose to fulfill here and now.

If You Are Breathing, You Have A Purpose!

God does not waste anything so if you are breathing there is a purpose for your life. If you are not exactly sure what that is, God is only a prayer away from the answer. Talk with Him.

Jesus said, “…Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

According to the American Psychological Association, stress is directly linked to six of the leading causes of death. I’m not sure that’s really news to anyone. Intuitively we all know that stress is hard on our bodies and our minds.

We All Long For Peace

This is where Jesus enters the picture and says “learn from me”. He alone provides the perfect prescription for stress. Jesus said in Matthew 6, “Do not worry about your life…if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” The point being, we stress about far too much in life when the answer to our needs starts and ends with our prayer time spent with Jesus.

God said, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

Sometimes, life slaps you in the face right out of the blue. Something you did not foresee or expect comes along and your world seems to be turned upside down. In these moments a mix of anger, fear, depression, and anxiety instantly flood your mind. The only words you can find to say are “Why?” I’ve been there, more than once, and each time,

The Only Way Out Is Up!

Of all the things I’ve learned about God in my lifetime, one of the most valuable is His patience and understanding with me. When I’m angry or depressed over a situation, and I just don’t understand why the load has just been dumped on me, I’m tempted to lash out in anger at God. Yet, in those moments, with the patience of a loving father, as I surrender my situation and emotions to Him, Jesus brings a “peace that passes understanding” (John 14:27). Because I have put my trust in Him, and pray every day that His will be done in my life, the junk of life never seems to bury me. For in those moments, I remember that His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts higher than my thoughts. Then, once again, I trust that He will work things out, even when I have no clue how that’s possible. For “with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)

“He (God) who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” Philippians 1:6

Dale Carnegie once said, “We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.”

God’s Plans For You Are Bigger Than You Think.

God created you for a purpose so stop getting in your own way. Let him take the wheel and finish the job. You will be amazed where He leads.

“He calms the storm” Psalm 107:29

No matter what you are going through today, the storm will eventually end. Psalm 107 reminds us that God is in charge. Indeed, God calms the storms in life, and

There Has Never Been A Storm That Did Not End.

Reach out to him and hand your storm to him. Not only will he provide you with the strength to weather your storm, but you will come out stronger than you ever thought possible on the other side. Our God is the Lord of the storm.

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31

There is a peaceful hill overlooking the Pacific in San Diego where fallen service men and woman have been laid to rest, some more than a hundred years ago. Every time I visit this garden of grass and stone I’m inspired because I’m quickly reminded of the love that we are capable of. I know the people on this hill were not thinking of me when they passed, but they were thinking of their family or friends, and they loved them enough to stand in the gap.

Oh That We Would Love So Deeply.

This morning we all woke up, and opened our eyes. That means we have one more wonderful opportunity to love our neighbors. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity.