“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD” - Proverbs 21:31 (NIV)
A very good question to ask in the life of every believer is who has the last word in your life? Once, the Israelites were surrounded by overwhelming enemies pushing them to the edge. So, Gideon, drew up a battle plan with a 22,000 strong mighty force. However, when Gideon turned to God, “The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me” (Judges 7:2). Gideon was asked to “proclaim in the hearing of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead” (vv 3). So, “twenty-two thousands of them turned back, but ten thousand remained” (vv 4).
Still, the Lord asked Gideon to reduce the number by taking all remaining fighters down to a well. “So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink.” And the number of those who lapped the water with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men; all the others knelt to drink” (vv 5-6). Finally, the “LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped the water I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. But all the others are to go home” (vv 7). And indeed the Lord brought victory with just three hundred men against a might army of thousands of Midianites.
After his victory, the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—for you have saved us from the hand of Midian. But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD shall rule over you” (Judges 8:22-23). See, who takes the glory!
There are situations that come in our life where the Lord must have the final word. We can prepare for the battle and do all that is in our powers, only for the Lord to ask us to push all those plans aside and look up to Him.
Recently a friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The doctors gave him only three months to live! He turned to God. It’s now over three years and guess who has the final word!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, whatever the plans I may have or what man can say, what a blessing it is to know that the final word ever belongs to you.
Related upcoming events
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16/04/2024 - 17/04/2024 All day“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8)
Have you had a moment when you felt you were out of time? It is “too late” is perhaps what went through Martha and Mary when life slipped out of their brother Lazarus. But when news got to Jesus he did not drop whatever he was doing to rush to their rescue. “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” (John 11:7). Later he decided to go and, “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days” (vv 17).
Yet in spite of this delay Jesus found Martha’s faith apparently not shaken. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (vv 21-22).
Meanwhile Mary who had stayed in the house on hearing of his arrival came out wondering if there was any hope. “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verse 32). She felt it is too late.But it was not too late. “Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (vv 40). Thus, “When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (vv 43-44).
If you believe in the Almighty God, then there is nothing like too late! Perhaps you too have a matter that has not only been ailing for a while but by all physical appearance is dead. Well, if you believe, it is not too late. It was against reality and quite laughable to think that a man who had been dead for four days could be restored to life. Well, the Lord did it. What more is it with you that the Lord can’t restore to life?
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth. you who raised Lazarus from the dead even after four days of being in the tomb, I bring to you all my affairs even that which appears dead, that you restore it to life, for nothing is too late with you, because of the faith have in your son, Lord Jesus
