What comes to your mind when you think of a key? You may think of something that opens a door or an opportunity. Depending on the Lord is key to growing our faith. We live in a culture where people strive to be independent. This independence often includes freedom from following God.
When we live a life independently from God, we have no interest in God’s plan for our life. God’s plan leads to salvation, purpose, and eternity in heaven. God did not create us to live life independently from Him but to depend on Him.
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [1] When we trust God, He will show us which path to take. God’s path is full of adventure and fulfillment.
Gideon Learned the Key of Depending on the Lord
Gideon seems to have a shaky faith as he prepares Israel to fight against Midian. God will use this assignment to teach Gideon to depend on Him. It would be a faith lesson Gideon would never forget.
Judges 7:1 So Gideon and his army got up early and went as far as the spring of Harod. The armies of Midian were camped north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. 3 Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’ ” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.
4 But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” 5 When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” 6 Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.
7 The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” 8 So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him. [2]
God was teaching Gideon that the key to victory was depending on Him and not the numbers of his army. In this way, God would receive the credit for the victory and all who watched this would begin to trust Him.
The Key for You is Depending on God
Trusting and waiting on God seems difficult because we are not in control. We must give up our will and depend on God, that is key for a life of faith. When we depend on the One who is creator of all that He shows He cares as He guides us through difficult situations.
As we depend on God, prayer is a key. In prayer we actively depend on God to hear and answer our prayers. Our relationship with God is built up by communicating with Him. As we get to know and trust Him more, our faith increases.
Prayer
Dear Lord, this world is filled with such uncertainty. But I’m assured I can really and truly rely on God. You are the never-changing, eternal, ever-present God, whose love NEVER fails. I can always place my confidence in You, for You will never leave nor forsake me.[3]
To learn more how depending on the Lord is key, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-gideon
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.