Today's Soul Food — April 18
 

April 18

"Then Gideon said to God, `Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece.'" Judges 6:39.

Some ask how much proof Gideon needed that God had his best interests in His tender heart? God had already assured Gideon of his success, but Gideon wanted to check, recheck and double-check. But perhaps we are unfair to Gideon; perhaps he feared he misunderstood God's intentions and he needed to be more certain of his own interpretation. Don't we all have such moments? Gideon never questioned God's power or purposes to save Israel. In his humility he doubted his own ability, just as did Moses when God tapped him for the job of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. God did not reprove Gideon for his request; indeed, He immediately granted it, knowing that the weakness is more of nature than of faith, and physical rather than moral. It was in this very nature of doubt that Gideon asked God not to be angry with him. Gideon knew that he asked a double portion of proof, as we all do daily.

All great saints feel doubts. It's a part of nature to feel. Faith is the knowing that God is good and just and holy; the feeling of doubt creeps in when the circumstances just don't fit. Thoreau said, "Faith keeps many doubts in her pay. If I could not doubt, I should not believe." Doubt isn't always dispute. Indeed, the more we know about God, the more doubts we may have about ourselves, especially. This is meekness, a virtue God treasures.

We prove God every day by asking for new strength for new duties. We don't ask for miracles, for they abound anyway; we ask, as did Gideon, that our fleece be saturated with His dew: gratitude in our hearts and holiness in our life.

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

Who was the prophet that predicted that Jeroboam would be king over ten tribes of Israel?

Previous question and Answer: Who was forbidden to mourn the death of his beautiful wife? Ezekiel (Ezekiel 24:16-18)

T H I N K A B O U T I T

You'd Better Slow Down When the day is done, do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores running through your head? You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast Time is short The music won't last Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die 'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"? You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast Time is short The music won't last When you run so fast to get somewhere You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away... Life is not a race. Do take it slower Hear the music Before the song is over.

 

Today's  Devotion

Heavenly Response by Cathy Vinson   "The smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God." — Rev 8:4

It is fascinating to look at the receiving end of prayer, the place where it is geared towards...the other side. "In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; My cry came before Him, into His ears."--Ps 18:6 "The smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God."--Rev 8:4 The supremacy of the throne of God, the temple of God, the altar of God. Into this setting come the prayers of "all" His saints (Rev 8:3). He hears and smells them. The voice of our prayer comes into His ears; the sincere cry, like incense, enters His nostrils. Might we believe there is impact when our prayers come before God. Do we see the results? (Please see Ps 18: 7-19 and Rev 8:5.) We together must pray for our society and countries at large. The world will not believe our answers, but for the thousands who are praying and fill His bowls (Rev 5:8), we will know there is a reception. Whatever may come in these days, there is strong encouragement in heaven's response. It has and will touch the workings of this earth.   Send a note to Cathy Vinson © , the writer of this devotion.

We together must pray for our society and countries at large.

More Whispers from the Wilderness

All the Rest April 18

Today in History April 18