Real Confidence....

How often do we encounter God and still want more evidence to faithfully serve Him? We walk around confident interacting with ordinary people, but when God asks us to speak or do for Him, all the sudden that confidence fades away. This only goes to show us that that confidence we think we have is fake. This pseudo-confidence rarely stands up when true faith is required. Yet God calls us to be used by Him to accomplish His will. It’s not until we realize true confidence comes only from God, that we can earnestly serve Him and reach our potential. Gideon is a perfect example of this. First, he questions God. This is a good thing. It shows his true concern with serving the “real” God, not some fictitious, made up false entity. Then he tells God how inadequate he is, revealing his true character (exactly what God wants). Then he asks for a sign, so he can truly believe. God knew his heart. He knew exactly what Gideon needed in order to rise up as a leader and fulfill his purpose. Gideon’s lack of confidence was his greatest asset, because he was empty. God filled it full of faith, which Gideon needed to become the man God designed him to be. It seems weak and untrusting on Gideon’s part, but that is exactly how God planned it. Pride keeps people from God. It’s when we empty our “pretend” tanks, that God sees our genuineness to let go of our selfishness, and He fills us up with His Spirit. This is when true confidence comes, one that doesn’t cower when pressure increases and pushes in on all sides. What the world sees as a lack of confidence, God uses it for His glory and our betterment.

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”17 Gideon replied, “If You are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. 18 Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to You.”He answered, “I will stay here until you return.” Judges 6:14-18

33 Soon afterward the armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east formed an alliance against Israel and crossed the Jordan, camping in the valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him. 35 He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, summoning their warriors, and all of them responded.36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as You promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to help me rescue Israel as You promised.” 38 And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.39 Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew. Judges 6:33-40