Faith Filled Friday

I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I want to be a blessing to you so I've made these Resources available to you and have the Missional blog tab for practical ideas of how to live on mission right where you are. 

Currently I am writing my way through Judges sharing glimpses of God's heart and character for a weekday devotional. To check out the entire series so far head on over the the Judges Devotional.  

Strength through a Bone

"As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands.  Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Then Samson said, "With a donkey's jawbone I have made donkeys of them.With a donkey's jawbone I have killed a thousand men." Judges 15:14-16

Doesn't it seem like God likes to wait till the last minute to come through. This is a last minute if I ever saw one. Philistines coming toward Samson shouting, within earshot, wanting to kill him. I wonder if he could smell their leather and see the sweat on their faces? What would you be thinking and feeling if this was you? If you were being carried by 3,000 of your own people bound with rope to be delivered to people who wanted to kill you. I think I would be so scared I wouldn't be able to talk or move. 

But at the last minute God comes through and shows Himself able, shows Himself powerful and strong. It is super clear Samson's strength is not what  defeated 1,000 people, it was the Holy Spirit. And seriously, what in the world did the 3,000 Israelites think? What would you think and feel? The guy they just handed over to the enemy breaks free and kills all 1,000 of the enemy right in front of their eyes, by himself, with a bone. Shocked, scared, confused?

But what is super awesome is that this is the same Holy Spirit that lives in the believer, the person who has submitted their life to the Lord. The very same strength that is available to us. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline." 2 Tim. 1:7  Though we feel weak and unable, the Lord is not. 

Do you feel unable, weak, inadequate? The Lord is not and is able to strengthen you. He is looking throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is fully committed to him. 2 Chron.16:9 and really we are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. 2 Cor. 3:5 

God uses the weak to profound the wise and does really incredible things through people who are submitted to Him, yielded to His strength.

Have you seen the three circles diagram? I believe this is one of the most important concepts a believer can really grasp and be able to explain to others. It literally is life changing. 

And what does God use to defeat 1,000? A donkey's jaw bone... a jaw bone! God doesn't need us to be anything spectacular to be someone He can use. Seriously, if He can use a jawbone, surely He can use a living, submitted, believer, who desires to please Him. He used a few fish and loaves to feed 5,000. He used a donkey to correct and speak truth. He can use you and me for His purposes. How encouraging is that! The Lord can, and will show Himself to be strong and powerful through our little vapor lives. 


If you've enjoyed this post will you share it? (The buttons at the bottom of the post make it super easy.)

And PS, sorry about the picture of the jawbone. Kinda gross, but it helps give a visual that's for sure. And there was just not many beautiful, flowery jawbones online pictures available to choose from.  ;)  
 

Faith Filled Friday Blog Hop

We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, devotionals, ministry as well as art, baking, photography, parenting or marriage thoughts and more if they tie into or display the the Lord somehow. 

So go ahead and link up below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. I just humbly ask that you please let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or put my button code (found on my side bar or the Faith Filled Friday Tab) so they can find these other great people glorifying God and we can continue to grow as a community. Thanks!   


And why not tweet or tell your bloggy friends on facebook to join us?



I'm linking up with Spiritual Sundays