Each day, Amy posts the day's readings and a SOAP devotional. I have to admit that I just started reading the devotionals a few days ago but they are great! This morning as I was reading about Gideon in Judges 6, a verse jumped out at me. Or I should say a verse convicted me. Amy was unable to post a SOAP devotional today and invited us to write our own. Right away, I knew I wanted to dig deeper with this verse. So here goes...
Scripture:
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. Judges 6: 27Observation:
Fear of man can be so strong that even one who saw and spoke with the Angel of the Lord face to face and saw a miracle from his hand will do his worship and service in secret to avoid what his family and friends might do or say.
Application:
God wants me to let go of the fear of what my family or friends might say about me or do to me and to walk in the freedom of His plan for me. As we continue to contemplate a big decision, I am convicted as I consider this verse. While it is wise to get a clear answer from the Lord before making a big decision public, I have also simply been reluctant to discuss this decision with family and friends because I am "afraid" of their possible negative response. I need to trust His plan and that He will make our paths straight as we trust Him and live life in broad daylight, in full view of friends and family. He has even been so good as to show me how He is working in the hearts of family members to accept this possible decision, even as they are unaware of it! (By the way, thank you for bearing with my vague posts on this topic, I promise to share as soon as we are decided!)
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your Word which never returns void. Thank You for speaking to me through Your Word in a personal way. I am amazed at how such a mighty and awesome God would desire to be intimate with little old me! Lord, help me to put aside the fear of man. GIve me boldness to live life in broad daylight and full view of friends and family. Give me Your Words of life and hope to share with those around me who need You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Posts
4 comments:
Still praying for you Natalie!! Great post...I, too, fall into worrying about what others think. Thanks for the reminder to focus on WHO really matters.
Beautiful post. After reading your SOAP, I started to think (meditate) more on the scripture and realized how that applies to my life as well. I want to live in the daylight and not be afraid of what people will say about me ~ if I'm ashamed before men, Jesus will be ashamed before our Father, which is worse? Thank you for sharing.
Good stuff here!! I'm so glad you are reading with us and I can relate here, too.
When I first started blogging my SOAP posts I was energized... yet also worried a bit as to what many of my friends would think. I'm glad I didn't let that fear stop me. :)
Keep it up! :)
Oh Nat, you are too funny. When will you see that there is no decision left for you to make? You chose a long time ago to follow His will and He has led you here. All you need to do is keep plugging away and following His lead and you will end up just where you belong, doing just what you should. Stop stressing, sister.
And as for the other, I have found that while family often leaves much to be desired, they can sometimes be surprisingly supportive. I'll pray that the latter is true for you, but either way, there are plenty of us to lift you up when you need it. xo
Post a Comment