Possessed by God
"But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him, and he blew a trumpet, and [the clan of] Abiezer was gathered to him" (Judges 6:34, Amplified Version).
I love this verse, although it wasn't nearly as powerful the first times I read it. Most versions translate it a bit more safely. For example, the NIV simply says, "The Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon..."
But the fact is, the Hebrew word used for "came on" means "to put on a garment or to clothe oneself."
This is not a side of God I learned in Sunday School. Most people probably don't even know it's Biblical. We can believe God will touch our hearts; but what God did to Gideon encompassed his entire being. He completely engulfed him with Himself.
Why would God even want to do such a thing? Let's look at Gideon for a moment. An angel appeared to him and told him he would deliver Israel from their oppression. Gideon looked at himself and his circumstances in polite disbelief: "'Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied, 'but how can I save Israel?" (Judges 6:15).
Gideon knew he couldn't do what God wanted. What he didn't know was God wasn't looking for someone who could do it alone. He never has. Remember Moses, David, Esther, Mary, Paul....
Gideon's knowledge of his own inability was the very thing that made it possible for God to use him.
So how does this affect my life? God may not want to use me to personally save Israel.
But there are people all around me who need rescuing. What is my response?
Do I spend all my strength trying to save them? Stay awake nights thinking of the perfect solution? Wear my emotions to a thread in grief and anguish over their struggles?
Or do I simply admit I don't have what it takes to rescue anyone by myself?
When Gideon gave up control of his life, God delivered an entire nation from bondage. God gave him courage, faith, wisdom, creative ideas, strength, favor, authority, and humility. Anything was possible, because Gideon refused to limit God.
What could happen if my attention moved from rescuing others to being fully possessed by God?
Part of me screams, "But what will happen to them?!" Yet, I've decided. Instead of focusing on the needs surrounding me, I'm going to look to Jesus and say, "What do You need me to yield today? What am I still holding onto that You want to use?"
Until He has all of me. Every. last. drop.
Because I can't save them. If I could, it would have happened already. But with my heart, mind, body, emotions, money, relationships, and strength completely surrendered - what could God do?
It's almost overwhelming to imagine, isn't it? But I think God likes it.
Now what about you? What could God do with your life if you let Him have complete control? Let's dream together - share your stories so we can encourage each other!
I love this verse, although it wasn't nearly as powerful the first times I read it. Most versions translate it a bit more safely. For example, the NIV simply says, "The Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon..."
But the fact is, the Hebrew word used for "came on" means "to put on a garment or to clothe oneself."
This is not a side of God I learned in Sunday School. Most people probably don't even know it's Biblical. We can believe God will touch our hearts; but what God did to Gideon encompassed his entire being. He completely engulfed him with Himself.
Why would God even want to do such a thing? Let's look at Gideon for a moment. An angel appeared to him and told him he would deliver Israel from their oppression. Gideon looked at himself and his circumstances in polite disbelief: "'Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied, 'but how can I save Israel?" (Judges 6:15).
Gideon knew he couldn't do what God wanted. What he didn't know was God wasn't looking for someone who could do it alone. He never has. Remember Moses, David, Esther, Mary, Paul....
Gideon's knowledge of his own inability was the very thing that made it possible for God to use him.
So how does this affect my life? God may not want to use me to personally save Israel.
But there are people all around me who need rescuing. What is my response?
Do I spend all my strength trying to save them? Stay awake nights thinking of the perfect solution? Wear my emotions to a thread in grief and anguish over their struggles?
Or do I simply admit I don't have what it takes to rescue anyone by myself?
When Gideon gave up control of his life, God delivered an entire nation from bondage. God gave him courage, faith, wisdom, creative ideas, strength, favor, authority, and humility. Anything was possible, because Gideon refused to limit God.
What could happen if my attention moved from rescuing others to being fully possessed by God?
Part of me screams, "But what will happen to them?!" Yet, I've decided. Instead of focusing on the needs surrounding me, I'm going to look to Jesus and say, "What do You need me to yield today? What am I still holding onto that You want to use?"
Until He has all of me. Every. last. drop.
Because I can't save them. If I could, it would have happened already. But with my heart, mind, body, emotions, money, relationships, and strength completely surrendered - what could God do?
It's almost overwhelming to imagine, isn't it? But I think God likes it.
Now what about you? What could God do with your life if you let Him have complete control? Let's dream together - share your stories so we can encourage each other!
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