The Strategy of the 300-Men.

God does not need abundance or crowds to give a victory; He only needs 300 men. This 300-man is a figurative number representing the right people, as seen in Gideon's battle with the Midianites.

There are 300 men for every season, assignment, and victory. Confidence in God was the strategy the Lord set out to teach Gideon, a reminder that Yahweh can achieve anything regardless of number, qualification, or location.

God has set a divine strategy, and He is revealing it to men and women today: "Put your trust in Me." Trust is built despite fear or confusion about the path ahead. If God led us only through paths we understand and can navigate on our own, we would never come to recognize His significance in our lives.

Those waters that appear strange and difficult are God's way of saying, "I want you to give Me the right to steer this boat. I promise you a safe landing, but it can only happen if I give the directions." God lays down the standards to set us off, but rest assured, He will bring us to our desired destination. This is the way God speaks to us.

Will you still choose the strategy of the Midianites that has already been defeated by God, or will you trust God to give you intel on the enemy’s camp?

The very first thing that Gideon did was "he saw"; he saw the crowd:

Judges 7:11 (ESV): "Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp."

Judges 7:12 (ESV): "And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance."

The abundance of soldiers and warriors would have overwhelmed him if he had simply seen and walked away. He might have looked at the vast army and retreated, thinking of his own small camp. But if this walk had ended with just "sight," Gideon would not have been able to build strength in God's strategy.

God wanted him to hear; He wanted to give him insight into what the enemies thought about him.

There are moments when God doesn’t want us to simply rely on what we see; He wants us to step into the realm of hearing. Our sight can be deceptive and create a false impression of the enemy. But when Gideon continued his walk, he heard:

Judges 7:13-14 (ESV): "When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, ‘Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.’ And his comrade answered, ‘This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.’"

Judges 7:15 (ESV): "As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped..."

Gideon received strength only when he heard. It’s not just our sight, but our ears that must be quickened, so that we will always hear what is needed to build the courage and strength to thrive in God’s strategy.

We are getting the victory because we have heard. We have heard what God’s Word has said concerning sickness, failure, rejection, barrenness, and so on. In courage, we claim our victory.

Today, we have heard and rise in obedience to God’s strategy.

Stay revived!

By Guest Writer.

"The Burden of Prayer: Partnering with God for His Purpose"

Some time ago, I felt a burden in my heart to pray. It was as though there was a weight in my spirit urging me to pray. As I began to pray, I realized I was relieved, and the burden became lighter. However, As time went on it continued to grow stronger, leading me to a place of consistent and longer prayers. 

This was the burden of prayer—God’s burden to intercede, even when I feel there is nothing wrong. It is a pressing desire for revival to be stirred up, for God's children to be restored to their rightful place, and for Jesus to be glorified. There is a hunger in mankind that only the Lord can satisfy. It is a yearning that cannot be filled with food or anything else, but only through the knowledge of the Lord. When God wants to use a man, He places burdens on him and watches and hopes eagerly that man is able to read these signs. The burdens of the Lord stir us into our God-given roles on the earth.

As we go about our daily activities, we should ask ourselves: What burdens are we bearing? What relevance do we have to God’s Kingdom? Are we children of God who are always asking for miracles but not seeking the Miracle Worker Himself?

When the Lord places burdens on us and we begin to act on them, we create a portal for the manifestation of His will. When we step into our roles as God's burden-bearers, we begin to seek to see and hear from him on a daily and the burdens of the Lord are not grievous.

Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV):
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

When we invite the Lord into our daily lives and routines, and as we desire His ways, we begin to partner with Him daily. He starts to place burdens in our hearts. Until we act on what He has placed there, we feel a pressing need to do something. We sense this urgency. But when we carry out these tasks, we feel a sense of peace. These burdens the Lord gives us are accompanied by His help and grace to carry them out.

When the Lord invests His time in placing burdens on our hearts, these burdens are for our shaping and for Jesus to be glorified. As we fulfill them, we are slowly transformed into the image of our God.

Stay Revived!

When Expectations Don’t Match Reality: How to Handle Life’s Challenges.

We’ve all been there—when what we expect doesn’t align with what we experience. In those moments, it can feel as though everything is falling apart just when we thought things were finally coming together. So, what do we do when we’re on the brink of receiving our breakthrough, only to be met with disappointment?

I recently spoke with a friend who had gone through a similar experience. She attended a job interview, was accepted for the role, and was eager to start. However, when she arrived at the job on Monday, the employer changed the terms of the agreement and asked for something entirely different from what was initially promised. As a result, she had to reject the role, leaving her feeling frustrated and confused.

This scenario is one many of us can relate to. When we’re on the verge of receiving our testimony or breakthrough, the enemy often tries to disrupt it, sowing seeds of doubt and discouragement. The enemy’s goal is to make us feel inadequate, to erode our confidence in God’s plan for us, even in the face of opposition.

Life’s challenges don’t come with a timetable, so it’s impossible to know when they’ll strike or how to prepare for them. Sometimes, encouragement can feel like an empty cliché. When we’re left to face the harsh realities of life, it’s easy to slip into sadness or even depression.

Psalm 23:5 (KJV) reminds us of God’s provision in the midst of our struggles:

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

When I reflect on this verse, I’m struck by the four profound promises of what the Lord intends to do for us. As children of God, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that we shouldn’t have to struggle or face difficulties, assuming we’ll receive everything we want effortlessly. But we must remember that even David, who was known as a man after God’s own heart, faced immense challenges. He experienced moments of loss, doubt, and fear, but he was always encouraged and strengthened by God’s promises.

God has prepared a table for us, even in the presence of our enemies. This doesn’t just mean physical sustenance; it signifies spiritual provision, protection, and empowerment, even when things seem uncertain. God doesn’t invest His time in us for us to fail or remain stagnant. His desire is for us to thrive, even in the face of challenges. These obstacles are not meant to break us but to refine us, and He has already made provision for us to navigate through them.

When we face trials, it’s important to take time to recharge and refocus. Lean into God’s promises and remind yourself that He has equipped you with everything you need to overcome. Step into each day with the assurance that He is with you, and that His grace and strength will carry you through every challenge.

Stay revived!

 

The Thinning Out: God's Strategy For A Victorious Life

During a prayer meeting, my sister prayed, "Lord, make me a sword for You to tear down the enemy's strategies." As I studied Judges and Gideon's story, I pondered the meaning of being a sword for the Lord.

At first, it sounded like an ideal request to the Lord, but the reality of these words is reflected in the Gideon story. I came across the lines he told the warriors to proclaim when they went to battle "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon". For the very first time I pondered, what does it mean to be a sword for the Lord? 

Before the Lord asked Gideon to make this profound and life-changing declaration He did "the thinning process". The Lord had already given his word to Gideon that he would give him victory but then after Gideon gathered men for war God also said to him in...

Judges 6:2 (NIV)  

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.’

The Lord thinned out his army from 32,000 to 300 men (Judges 6:2-3, 7:7). This reduction seemed ridiculous, but the battle wasn't about Gideon's strength; it was the Lord's.

In the moments before the battle and victory, Gideon was lost in an emotion of doubt, fear, and discouragement. 

Yes! The Lord wanted this moment so he wouldn't trust in his own strength, skill, or expertise but also the Lord wanted him to trust in His words. 

Similarly, in our lives, the Lord takes us through challenges, stripping away relationships, habits, and weights that hinder our trust in Him. 

This battle represents most seasons in my life and it can also be in your life too. After the Lord has given us a promise, and we go on to experience a wave of ups and downs, in that very moment the Lord is thinning us, not just physically of relationships and places that aren't needed for a victorious life but He is ridding us off the weights that would threaten His swordsman in battle. 

The thinning process can be difficult most times, painful some other times, and a basket full of uncertainty. This is because there are times he thins out of the precious relationships, jobs and careers that we pride ourselves in, the businesses, and several other weights. At this moment, he is saying  "I want you to trust me more".

God didn't forget you, God is thinning you for victory. However, God's strategy is not to abandon us but to prepare us for victory. As Revelation 12:14 (NIV) says, The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.

God's word reminds us that He has already given us victory. Our enemies know it, and we must trust in His words, not our own strength.

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.