By Vaneetha Rendell Risner (Desiring God) I am not brave.

I recently heard someone differentiate between bravery and courage, saying that bravery is the ability to take on difficult situations without fear, while courage is taking on difficult situations even when you’re afraid. When I think of courage, I am reminded of Gideon.

I relate to Gideon; he lives life afraid. We find him “beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11). When the angel of the Lord comes to him, Gideon immediately expresses his doubts about God’s faithfulness to the Israelites (Judges 6:13). When Gideon realizes who is speaking to him, he insists that as the least member of his undistinguished clan (Judges 6:15), he can’t be given an assignment.

Gideon isn’t confident to do anything himself. He’s fine complaining about how bad things are, but when he is asked to do something to improve the situation, Gideon backs away. It’s easier to complain than to act.

When God makes it clear that he himself is calling Gideon, Gideon wants a sign — just to be sure (Judges 6:17). After he receives the sign, Gideon obeys God and cuts down the altar to Baal. But rather than doing it out openly by day, Gideon is afraid of the townspeople and even his family, so he destroys it by night (Judges 6:27). Later, when the irate townspeople come for him, Gideon lets his father defend him. Gideon was not brave.

God Knows We Are Dust
It’s easy to criticize Gideon for his doubts, but I’ve doubted as well. I have seen God work in my life, enabling me to do things that I would have thought impossible. But then I still doubt that I can do the next thing. I look at myself and my resources, and I feel inadequate all over again, convinced I can’t accomplish what’s before me. I know that for me, further physical weakness and loss are constants. When I consider the future, I often cry out, “Lord, I can’t do this. I’m not as strong as you think I am.”

The Lord wants to save Israel by Gideon’s hand, but Gideon wants proof. Twice. He first wants the fleece to be wet on the dry ground, and then wants to see dry fleece on the wet ground, just to be extra sure. From our perspective, Gideon might seem overly skeptical. Why does he keep asking for proof? But then I think about all the times I keep asking for assurance from God. When I feel inadequate to face something, I ask for signs, encouragement from friends, verses that apply to my situation. God understands my frailty; he deals with my weaknesses just like he did Gideon’s — without scorn or chastisement. The Lord remembers that I am dust.

After giving Gideon all the signs he requested, God prepares him to lead the Israelites into battle against the Midianites. Twenty-two thousand people showed up for battle, which the Lord declared was too many (Judges 7:2–3). With that army, the Israelites could take credit for the victory themselves. The Lord tells Gideon to let the fearful warriors go home and choose for battle only those who lap the water instead of kneeling to drink, resulting in an army of just three hundred. The victory would not be credited to the strength of the Israelites; God’s power alone would deliver his people.

What God Sees in You
When Gideon is left with three hundred men, he’s scared. Though he doesn’t voice his fear, God knows his heart and reassures him by offering, “If you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp . . . and hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened” (Judges 7:10–11). One would think that if God unequivocally told you what to do, that you’d trust him without proof. But not Gideon. Of course he goes immediately to the camp and must hear for himself why victory is assured. Then finally Gideon believes and moves forward (Judges 7:15).

Throughout this encounter, Gideon doubts, is afraid, and feels inadequate and weak. He only acts when he has proof that he’ll succeed. He wants to trust God, but he keeps doubting himself. Yet, from the beginning, God sees him as a “mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12), which seems to contradict Gideon’s insecurities and doubts. God sees what we are in him, not in ourselves.
So, if you feel inadequate, weak, or afraid today, take heart. God chooses the foolish “to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Some of the greatest undertakings in the Bible were accomplished by weak people who felt they didn’t measure up to their calling.

‘Lord, Choose Someone Else’
Moses parted the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from their Egyptian pursuers, but when God first called Moses, he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). This was immediately after God had assured Moses, “I will . . . teach you what you shall speak” (Exodus 4:12). When God called the prophet Jeremiah, his first response was, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6).
 
Paul wanted God to remove this thorn in the flesh, but the Lord reminded him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

All He Requires
Today, if the Lord is calling you to a task for which you feel inadequate, remember that the Lord isn’t looking for your strength, or bravery, or natural gifts; he wants your reliance on him. His power is made perfect in our weakness. We know that God saw Gideon as mighty. In the celebrated Hebrews “Hall of Faith,” we are reminded that Gideon conquered kingdoms and the Lord made him strong out of weakness (Hebrews 11:32–34).

We too will be made strong out of weakness when we put our trust in the Lord. As the hymn “Come Ye Sinners” beautifully reminds us, “All the fitness he requires is to feel your need of him.”


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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:

Judges chapters 6-7
1 Corinthians 1:27
Exodus 4:12-13
Jeremiah 1:6
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Hebrews 11:32-34


Questions to Reflect on:

1. Why is it easier to focus on your weakness than God's strength?
2. What have you found yourself saying that "you are not able" to God?
3. How does remembering God's power and His ways help you trust Him even when you feel weak?
4. How has this devotional encouraged you to trust God in your weakness?

By Yodit Kifle Smith​

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
 
 
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

I wish I had a spiritual answer to give you all but in reality, after turning off my alarm (for the 5th time), I lie there with my phone glued to my hands, checking emails and scrolling through social media—for longer than I care to admit.

This is not the habit I want to continue in—especially as I seek to make better use of my time. While we may all have various routines, I want to encourage us with how we spend our first waking moments.
As I have been in the book of Psalms recently, I couldn’t help but notice the way in which the authors spoke of the morning and how the Lord convicted me to ponder on how I can renew my mind to consider the sacredness of this time:
 
And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18):

Do we realize the power of these words? Our waking up is a miracle from God because He has willed for us to experience another day of grace and mercy with Him. What if we woke up with our hearts and minds in that disposition? Knowing that God is with us. He sustained us through the night and He will be faithful to sustain us through the day.

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (Psalm 5:3):

How can the Lord hear our voice in the morning? We can make it a habit to wake up with praise on our lips. How easy is for us to wake up grumbling because we have so much to face that day or groggy and agitated because we just want more sleep? Guilty! But what if the first words we utter when waking up is, “Lord, thank you for the gift of this new day. I need you. Help me walk by faith.” And as gratitude overflows from our lips, we then are able to submit ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord (Romans 12:1).

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14):

I am easily satisfied by social media—which is why I have convinced myself that I need to check it first thing in the morning. How foolish! We are reminded in this verse that we desperately need to be satisfied by God from the moment we wake up. Why? Because the enemy crouches by our bedside, waiting to devour us that day, seeking to tempt us with other things that pretend to satisfy us (1 Peter 5:8). However, making it a habit to be satisfied in God’s Word and in His presence produces a life that sings for joy, no matter the circumstances we may face that day.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8):

Each of us may have different routines in the morning, but one thing I have seen bear much fruit is getting in God’s Word in the morning. Whether for five minutes or an hour, it’s important that His Word renews our minds of His unfailing love and His Character. As Bible teacher Jen Wilkins powerfully stated, “Our hearts cannot love what our minds do not know.” And to add to that, we can put our trust in whom we don’t know. The author seeks the Lord to show him the way in which he should go because his whole life has been entrusted to Him. In the same way, we should seek and desire God to direct us each and every day. But it takes us trusting Him—which means it takes us knowing Him---which means it takes us getting into His Word.

But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You. (Psalm 88:13):

Prayer is not just a morning ritual but we see here how the author has made it clear that it starts from the time he awakes. Prayer is the act of faith of being completely dependent on God. And this verse shows us that we are to desperately cry out for His help in the morning. Asking for His wisdom and His truth to be our guide. Asking that our emotions would be submitted to Him as we go through the day—trusting that His spirit is working in us.
 
Sisters, every discipline of our faith in Christ is designed to keep us gazed on Him. May our mornings be used to set that gaze so we are fixed on Him through our days.
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:

Psalm 139:18
Psalm 5:3
Psalm 90:14
Psalm 143:8
Psalm 88:13
Romans 12:1
1 Peter 5:8

Questions to Reflect on:

1. What are your habits in the morning?
2. What are practical ways of helping us remove the things that could/do distract us?
3. How has this devotional helped you see the preciousness of your morning time? 
4. What new habits will you seek for your mornings?

By Laura Hardin
(WITHIN Devotional Contributor)

We all have triggers that make us susceptible to certain sin issues. Maybe it’s a careless word spoken by a family member, a micromanaging boss, or the potent ache of loneliness. As Christians, we often look at these familiar temptations with the eyes of faith, believing we are stronger than the last time we fell in this area.
God knows us better than we know ourselves.
​
Consider Peter. When Jesus told the disciples that they will all fall away from him, Peter confidently replied, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not” (Mark 14:27-29).

But Jesus knew Peter’s heart better than he knew his own. He knew his struggles with the fear of man and predicted that he would deny him that very night.

“If I have to die with you, I will never deny you,” Peter insisted, believing that he could never betray the one he had come to believe was the Messiah (Mark 10:31). He would rather die than be unfaithful. At least that’s how he felt in the moment. 

We are not unlike Peter. When we feel close to God, we declare with heart and song that we will worship God with all that we have and all that we are. Because we feel strong spiritually, we think we can resist familiar temptations in our own strength.

Jesus knew that without divine help, Peter would do the exact opposite of his faith-filled words. After catching Peter, James and John asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, he specifically said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus singled Peter out, because Peter had every reason to be up praying with him, for he’d just been told that he was going to betray his Messiah. He should have been praying for God to intervene and empower him to be faithful. Instead he slept. Later that night, he denied Jesus three times before breaking down and weeping at his own folly. 

I wonder what would have happened if he had prayed with Jesus that night. I wonder how this incident shaped Peter’s understanding of the role of prayer in the faithfulness of his children. As God’s beloved, we have everything we need to be faithful to our Lord when triggered. Let us pray and depend on the Holy Spirit within.
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:
John 21:15-19
1 Peter 4:7
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Matthew 6:13
Isaiah 38:1-8*
Questions to Reflect on:

1. What triggers you to act contrary to who you are in Christ? What has triggered you this way in the past?

2. As you look ahead to the day or the week ahead, when will you be most tempted to “do you” in replace of following God?

3. What sin areas do you feel will never change? How do the above verses on prayer speak to your feelings? 

​By Brittany Jean-Louis (WITHIN Devotional Contributor)

“Let him seek peace and pursue it “
1 Peter 3:11
I love how the Bible commands us in many scriptures to seek or to find something. “in all they getting, get understanding” or “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added” are just a few examples of how we are commanded to seek and pursue. I remember as a kid playing hide and seek. Someone counted, everyone dispersed. The game was: once someone counted, they came to find you and if you are found, game over. As a kid, I would always volunteer to be the finder because I’d think in advance of clever places people could hide. Once I started to count the excitement started; you know that excitement that gets your heart pumping. The rush of adrenaline that shot through my body as I ran to find my cousins and friends. I go rushing in the house looking in cabinets, under beds in closets. Meanwhile being told firmly to “stop running in my house” by my resting aunt. Then seeking slows down but a brisk power walk ensues. I’d look in the attic the basement and go outside to look under the porch, behind the bushes in back yards. I’d start to find people slowly but surely. There were moments in my pursuit where I felt I’ve looked everywhere and a feeling of defeat came over me. So, I went back to the places I looked before and found people. I’d stop to think about potential hiding spots and then find more people. I kept doing it until everyone was found. The feeling of fulfillment that came over me was priceless.
What happens if we pursued peace like this? What if we ran with excitement to find it? What if we moved so expeditiously toward the mark that others may say: slow down? What if we searched all around, going back to places we went before to search and find? What if we took a break to gather our thoughts to figure out where it could be? What if we bolted toward it with eagerness? I believe this is how the Lord wants us to pursue Him and everything that He is inclusive of peace. 
The Hebrew meaning for peace is “to be complete or whole”. Therefore, when we pursue peace we are pursuing wholeness. God wants us to live our lives well. He wants us to be fulfilled, successful and prosperous in all that we are in Him and all that we do, in Him. That means we have complete relationship with Him. Complete relationship with ourselves. Complete relationship with others. 
When we purse peace, we are running after God. He is the source of our peace (Judges 6:24). 1 Peter 3:10 tells us that part of pursuing peace translates to loving life and seeing good days. Verse 12 implies that we are righteous (living uprightly for God) when we do good and pursue peace. And if we are righteous (through Christ) then the Lord’s eyes are on us and His ears are open to our prayers! Setting our pursuit on Him makes us righteous and He has never forsaken the righteous. When peace is pursued, we are united with God through Christ’s resurrection, presented to Him free of condemnation. We learn to fully understand the peace of God through the reconciliation of the cross and Jesus dying for our sins. Thus, when we do sin, we receive the peace of God in our hearts knowing that He is a forgiver of sins. We are constantly being washed and renewed when we ask for forgiveness and this conviction can only be lived out through a life pursuant of peace. 
The scripture tells us that to have a complete relationship with ourselves and others means to be loving. Pursuing peace allows us to be fulfilled in the relationship with ourselves and the people around us, not only the people we love but all people the Lord allows in our path. Verses 8-12 tells us to be loving, compassionate, sympathetic and humble. Cultivate good, ensure that we are not being hurtful nor sarcastic. Part of starting the process to make our souls whole is talking to ourselves like we talk to our best friends; our souls respond to the words we use, we have to be mindful of speaking life.
Sometimes we are not all that kind to ourselves; we talk down to ourselves or beat ourselves up when we fall short. Sometimes it’s not always about the big things we beat ourselves up about but the accumulation of small things that over time break our spirit. We must be kind to ourselves and others. Pursuing peace gives us the internal instruction to love ourselves and love others. The word says in 1 Corinthians 13 what love is- that it’s not puffed up, it’s patient, kind and not envious. The ministry of Jesus demonstrated this type of love. He gave of Himself for the purpose of the kingdom yet He took care of Himself and made time for loving Himself through the  restoration of prayer and being alone at times.  Speaking and acting in love, always. 
PRAYER:
“God we thank you for loving us. We thank you for giving us grace when we don’t always get it right. We thank you that peace is our portion and we will pull from this portion to know you better, know ourselves better and no others better. Let your love and peace rest and rule in our hearts always. We receive your peace today and all that it will bring to our spirit, soul and body. We thank you that your peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds. We commit to pursuing peace for the rest of our lives. In Jesus name, amen.”
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The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:
1 Peter 3:11-22
Judges 6:24
Hebrews 12:14
Colossians 3:15
John 16:33
Isaiah 26:3
Questions to Reflect on:
1. What have I been doing to pursue peace in my life?
2. How am I pursuing peace daily?
3. What specific things can I do daily to pursue peace?
4. How can I be more fulfilled in my relationship with Christ?
5. How can I be more fulfilled in my relationship with myself?
6. How can I be more fulfilled in my relationship with others?