The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "ENOUGH" for Saturday, 11 June 2016 with Scripture Judges 7:15-25

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "ENOUGH" for Saturday, 11 June 2016 with Scripture Judges 7:15 When Gid‘on heard the dream and its interpretation, he fell on his knees in worship. Then he returned to the camp of Isra’el and said, “Get up! because Adonai has handed Midyan’s army over to you.” 16 He divided the three hundred men into three companies. He put in the hands of all of them shofars and empty pitchers with torches in them. 17 Then he said to them, “Watch me, and do what I do. When I get to the edge of the camp, whatever I do, you do the same. 18 When I and everyone with me blow the shofar, then you blow your shofars all around the whole camp, and shout, “For Adonai and for Gid‘on!”
19 Gid‘on and the hundred men with him arrived at the edge of the camp a little before midnight, just after they had changed the guard. They blew the shofars and broke in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 All three companies blew the shofars, broke the pitchers and held the torches in their left hands, keeping their right hands free for the shofars they were blowing; and they shouted, “The sword for Adonai and for Gid‘on!” 21 Then, as every man stood still in place around the camp, the whole camp was thrown into panic, with everyone screaming and trying to escape. 22 Gid‘on’s men blew their 300 shofars, and Adonai caused everyone in the camp to attack his comrades; and the enemy fled beyond Beit-Sheetah near Tz’rerah, as far as the border of Avel-M’cholah, by Tabat.
23 Then men of Isra’el were summoned from Naftali, Asher, and both regions of M’nasheh; and they pursued Midyan. 24 Gid‘on sent messengers through all the hills of Efrayim, with the message, “Come down and attack Midyan; and capture the rivers before they get there, as far as Beit-Barah, and also the Yarden.” So all the men of Efrayim came together and seized the rivers as far as Beit-Barah and the Yarden. 25 They also captured two chiefs of Midyan, ‘Orev and Ze’ev. They put ‘Orev to death at the Rock of ‘Orev and Ze’ev at Ze’ev’s Winepress; then, as they kept pursuing Midyan, they brought the heads of Orev and Ze’ev to Gid‘on, who had crossed to the far side of the Yarden.

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God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus[Philippians 4:19 (NIV)]
Recently my husband saw a need for young families in our community to have a time of connection and encouragement. He suggested we host a monthly gathering in our home, and I laughed. All I could see was that we didn’t have enough space, time, energy, or money.
When I overcame my fear of not having enough and allowed God to use us, God did great things. People made new friends, old friends reconnected, we encouraged one another in faith, and we supported one another through life’s challenges.
I can relate to Gideon’s doubts that God could use him when he asked, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15). God showed Gideon that no matter how little he had, with God’s help he would have enough.
When God asks us to do something and we feel we don’t have enough, we can remember that God supplies the strength and everything we need to do God’s work.
Read more from the author, here."God is Still Enough"

As I mentioned in today's devotional, my husband and I hosted a monthly gathering in our home for several years. Friends filled our kitchen each month to make homemade pizza. While our kids played together, we encouraged each other through an exhausting season of parenthood.
We will always remember that season of our lives with fondness. After we moved out of state, the friendships forged over pizza have stood the test of time and distance. I'm so thankful I didn't let my fear of not being or having enough prevent us from stepping out in faith to follow God's leading.
God provided all we needed during those years, and when we moved God provided new community and new opportunities. How often in the years since have I thought of Gideon in Judges 6 and come to God saying, "I'm the least! I can't do this job!"
I thought of Gideon often over the past couple years as friends and family confided in me with their deepest hurts and struggles.
"God, I'm not enough! I can't help them!" I would say.
Yet God would gently remind me, "No, you can't, but I can through you."
I began to take prayer more seriously. Oh how I recognized my dependence on God as my husband was diagnosed and treated for thyroid cancer. Oh how I realize my need for Christ when my kids struggle with relationships at school. Oh how I rely on God when a friend calls to ask for prayer.
I continually turn my face to God and say, "You are enough."
God led me to people who taught me how to pray for those struggling with addictions, battling long-term illness, suffering from anxiety or depression, and more. God also brought people into my life who taught me how to sing praises through the tough times.
Then God brought the opportunity to write a book about praying for my community. "God, you picked the wrong person! I'm not smart enough, or even very good at praying."
But with God's help, one step at a time, I had all I needed to write the book. God supplied friends who prayed for me, who proofed chapters, and who offered wisdom on the various topics I needed to cover in the book. God provided a wonderful publisher to partner with, and every step of the way, he provided just enough courage and strength for the day.
The result is a beautiful book called Pray A to Z: A Practical Guide to Pray for Your Community, which releases this November. On my own, I definitely don't have enough to finish the task. But with God, I always have just what I need.[Amelia Rhodes, Check out Amelia's blog here: www.ameliarhodes.com.]

The Author: Amelia Rhodes (Michigan, USA)
Thought for the Day: No matter how little I have, with God’s help I have enough.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to step out in faith and to serve you whenever you ask. Amen.
Prayer focus: MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

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