ENABLER
My life is in His hands and He keeps my feet from stumbling. You have tested me, O God, You have purified me like silver.  from Psalm 66:9-19

The next morning Gideon and his army of 32,000 men marched to the spring of Herod, just south of where the enemy camped in the valley below. Being on a hill, Gideon could see the vast enemy camp spreading across the plains. How many were there? Many more than he could count, with their camels and iron chariots and foot soldiers. If Gideon was shaking in his sandals before, his knees began knocking now. What was 32,000 men against such an army?

Who am I to go against such an enemy? I’m just a farmer, certainly not a warrior and definitely NOT a war leader! What is God thinking?

However, there were the signs, not just two, but three miraculous signs that affirmed God had chosen Gideon to deliver Israel. “Go in the strength you have,” God had told him. With 32,000 men his army wasn’t too shabby. Not thousands like the enemy, but they could do this and God would be with them. After all it was His plan. Was it not?

Then God said, “Gideon, you have too many soldiers with you. If you fight with all of them, then Israel will boast it was by their own strength that they beat the Midianites. I want you to know it was by My strength, not yours. So tell all the men who are afraid to go home.”

“Go home!” I can just hear Gideon exclaim, “But God I need those men!” But it made some sense, if these men were afraid they would spread their terror among the ranks and weaken their strength, wouldn’t they? So Gideon made the announcement and watched while twenty-two thousand men walked away. Gideon counted every man and when the last one left the camp he knew exactly how many were left. Ten thousand. Against thousands and thousands. What was God thinking?

Yet, God had said, “Go in the strength you have.” Gideon’s strength was dwindling. Fast.

Then God said, “There are still too many men.”

“Too many? What do You mean?” Gideon cried pitifully.

“Take the men down to the stream to drink and I will tell you who goes with you.”

So ten thousand men marched down to the water and began to drink. Some got down on their bellies and drank directly out of the stream. Others knelt and while keeping their eyes on the surroundings, they scooped water with their hands and lapped like a dog.

God said, “Tell the ones who got down on their bellies to leave.”

With sinking heart, Gideon did so, and when he counted the remaining men is heart plummeted to his feet. Now only 300 men remained to fight an army that could not be counted. What was God thinking?

The Lord said, “With these three hundred men, I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.”

Go in the strength you have. Not your strength, not the men’s strength, but My strength.

My Neediness, His Strength
“Come to Me in all your neediness with defenses down and with desire to be blessed. As you spend time in My presence, your deepest desires will be fulfilled. Rejoice in your NEEDINESS, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me.” From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Does God want me to be self sufficient?

My physical strength is something I’ve always counted on. I’ve always been strong, capable and fearless, or I used to be anyway. Able to do most anything I put my mind to. When I was single, after loosing Jim, I decided I would not depend on a man, that I would do everything, I possibly could do. I soon found, however, that a man is handy when it came to changing the oil, something I didn’t even want to learn, and getting fire wood. And a few other things too. And I must say, my man is a very handy guy to have around. Did I take pride in my strength and self sufficiency? Probably.

I used to be a die-hard hunter when very few women hunted. Men marveled that I ventured out alone with riffle or bow in hand, shot a buck and usually an elk every year and EVEN gutted my own game. Usually my friend and I would even pack out our deer on horses.

I trained Bloodhounds for search and rescue, and spent much time careening down steep mountains, leaping through snow, jumping over logs while running behind them. Although I usually let the strong hound help pull me up the hills, we went at a fast clip most of the time. It was not easy, yet I could keep going, up and down rugged mountains, all day long while on a search or hunting. I was in top condition. Did I revel in that strength?

I definitely relied on my strong body and good health. Now my strength is diminishing, my health is beginning to fail a bit and anxiety threatens to overcome my mind at times. You can say its age, it happens, no matter how we fight it. But is God diminishing my strength, the power that I have relied on all my life, to make His strength most evident?

God cut down Gideon’s army to impossible numbers, so Gideon and Israel would know it was God who won the battle. Not themselves.

Is God doing that with me? Taking away what I relied on most in my life so I will go to Him ONLY for my needs. I say He is the Rock I stand on. And He is, yet I stand. Am I standing in my strength, not God’s?

Like Gideon, am I relying on the wrong thing? Gideon’s enemy was vast. They were thick as locusts in the valley. Their camels could no more be counted than the sands on the sea shore. Gideon’s original army of 32,000 was stretching it, but now he only had 300 men. What was Gideon to do?

If God takes my health and strength away what would I do? Where would I turn? No place but God. I may have to sit on the Rock but the Rock is where I want to be.

God said, “Go in the strength you have.” What strength do I have? The strength of my legs? The strength of my mind? I have nothing apart from my Lord. The strength I have, the strength I go on, the strength I have always gone on is my God’s strength. Not mine.

Am I willing to lay my self sufficiency on the alter? I was taught to be self sufficient, to make it on my own, to be strong. Not bad qualities. To a point. In the wilds of Alaska, or the tough terrain of western Montana, through the harsh weather in North Dakota, we have to be tough and strong. Life calls for us to be capable and self sufficient. Does it not? There are good things in being strong. But not when I’m grasping it like life line. Not when I cling to my good health like a drowning person clings to a sinking boat.

Its time to relinquish my hold. God is taking my fingers and prying them open one by one. Slowly I relax my grip.

God told Gideon, “Those who are more concerned about getting a drink than gaining victory over the enemy must go home.” Am I more concerned about my comfort, my health than having victory in the battle, in marching through the struggles with my head up looking at my Commander? Than gaining endurance and learning to lean on my Savior? Than growing closer to my Lord and relying on Him as my everything?

I can imagine how Gideon felt when he saw all those men laying down to drink. “NO!” He must have cried, “We’re done for now!” God says to me, “Trust me.” Yet when I see my health flying out the door, I panic and cry.

Don’t I believe even without good health that God will sustain me, keep me and even bless me? That He will enable me to endure what He brings my way? Yet not just endure, but have joy and peace through it? Oh yes!

His strength will be made apparent in my weakness.
I have the need, He has the riches.
He takes my weaknesses not my strengths, and works through them in MIGHTY ways.
He will ALWAYS take care of me, even in sickness even in weakness, even in old age.

He is my Enabler

“You are My child, I have chosen you and I will not throw you away!
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:9-10

You lift me up so I can stand on mountains.
You lift me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders!
You lift me up to more than I can be.

Song You Lift Me Up