Daily Reading: Judges 7
Scripture Focus: ... lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ (Judges 7.2)
Devotional Thought: I know I've told this story dozens of times, but it never grows old in the telling. Years ago, when I was a younger man, I used to travel quite a bit for the company I worked for. I would park my car at the airport, be gone a day or two, and then come back, jump in the car and head home. The airport was about 50 miles from home. We had 3 children at home - young babies. Lana did not work outside the home, so it worked out OK - most of the time - to have just one car. When I was gone, she was busy at home.
It usually went without incident, but on one trip I had been having trouble with our car. I often found myself either getting a jump or 'push-starting' it - you know, pushing it in neutral, jumping in, and popping the clutch. I tried to park it in places where I could push it down a little grade.
I was coming home from a trip and I remember praying, "Lord, would you please help me start my car..." Then I did something crazy. I prayed, "But if you don't, that's OK. I parked it on a grade, and I can push start it."
Ummm... Don't do that.
God let me push start it. Once...it didn't start. Again...nope. I was running out of room. One more push was all I had left on that little grade. I prayed a different prayer. "Oh, God! I need you. Please help me start my car!" It started.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Always remember "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124.8).
Prayer: Lord, like Gideon, help us always remember that our help is in you. Let us never think that it is our own hand that saves us. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to deliver, whether by many or by few. We trust in you. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 53.1-6
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
5 There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
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