Don't Turn Back, Stand Firm!

Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. (Judges 7:3,4,21 NIV)

Sometimes, when we look at things with our physical eyes, we lose heart at the magnitude of the challenges that face up, but when we hear from God and obey, we can rest assured that when we follow His lead, all will be victorious.

I'm sure that Gideon had his doubts about a victory when God cut his army down from twenty-thousand to three hundred men, but God knew what needed to be done, whether Gideon understood it or not.

When we are faced with obstacles and challenges that appear to be too much for us, we must remember that with God going before us, He is more than the world against us. Instead of backing up or backing away from challenges, we must learn to stand firm, holding our positions, and waiting for The Lord to show up and show out!

This lesson is especially important for all who are trying to determine how they move forward with a diminished capacity of people or resources. We pray! We talk to God and then we listen and obey. We boldly hold our ground, feet firmly entrenched and faith immovable--and watch our enemies--flee or our obstacles move out of our way. This is the victory we have in Jesus--knowing our faith in Him cannot be deterred by anything the enemy puts in our way.

Sometimes, we have to close our physical eyes and ears (since the enemy wants us to be fearful of the things we hear) and open our hearts to see spiritually--no weapon formed against us shall prosper and we are victorious in all things with Jesus on our side--when we hear and obey.

Now is the time for every Born-Again Believer to stand firm--immovable, not turning back or away from the challenges that face or the situations that try our faith. Our faith--even if only as large as a mustard seed--is enough to keep the enemy on the run when we stand firm, refusing to back up or back away from promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We know not the hour or the day of His Return, but we do know that He's coming and until He does, we are the spiritual army that must be as dedicated as Gideon as his three hundred--determined to know no fear and will stand firm on God's Word and all He desires us to do. It is not in the greatness of numbers that God works miracles; it is in the faith of the few that miracles occur.

Have faith in God (not people for they will let you down) and know that God has our backs and we can continue our forward march to victory in Jesus' name. We cannot turn back--we must hold our ground and see the glory of the Lord--declare His victory in all we do that honors Him.