The Lord Is With You

God has given me a great heart for the church and pastors. My heart is heavy both. Some pastors feel like they are facing an impossible situation. You may be a pastor reading this and you feel like no one cares, no one is willing, and no one will listen. Don't give up!

"When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Judges 6:12

Growing up, I was fascinated with the story of Gideon, how God led him to decrease hi army and then go and fight the Midianites! I remember singing a song about it in children's choir. The story has a very different meaning as an adult. I don't recall facing any impossible situations as a child, but I was taught that God is able. As we grow up and experience life, we know how difficult things can be. What do we do when we face a situation like Gideon? When we're out numbered, or the task seems to big?

In 2 Chronicles 14 we read the story of King Asa. God led him to defeat the Cushites, a million man army. Asa only had an army of about 500,000. Yes, you read that correctly, an army of 500,000 defeated an army of 1,000,000. King Asa was out manned, but God led him to victory. You would think that would be the end of the story, but in chapter 15, we see that times were tough again. God shares these words with Asa in verse 7, "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." I don't know what your facing, but I know that God does. Like Gideon, and Asa, God wants to lead you to a great victory. The victory is not to get us a great name, but so that others see how great God is!

My prayer is that God would provide a great victory, so great that all would see it was God's hand at work. We need a great revival. May we lead our churches to repentance! If you go to the beginning of both the passages in Judges 6, and 2 Chronicles 14, the outpouring of God's spirit and strength comes after repentance!

"But as for you, be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7