Getting back on solid ground

"... Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them."  

Judges 21:23

Sometimes we get so far off course that the only thing we can do is let everything go and start anew.  Sometimes we need to get out of the world altogether, step back on our foundation of God, and rebuild our lives piece by piece.  Yes, sometimes, we need to start over - completely.

Before any action is taken, seek God first!

"... they inquired of the Lord...The Lord answered..."

Judges 20:23

Before you move, before you execute a plan you have made for yourself, be sure to inquire of God first.  For if he is not part of your plan, your plan will never succeed.  However, if you put him in charge of your plan, then victory will be yours for the taking.  

Surrender the sin

"Now surrender those wicked men of Gibeah so that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel."

Judges 20:13

Surrender (purge) the sin amongst you, and within you, over to God and let him refill your life and soul with his goodness, mercy, love, peace, grace, and favor. 
Your life truly depends on it. 

Your journey

Then they said to him, "Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful."

The priest answered them, "Go in peace.  Your journey has the Lord's approval."

Judges 18:5-6

Unlike those in the Old Testament, we now have an Intercessor that goes before us and speaks to God for us, his name is Jesus Christ.  Therefore, speak to God in the name of sweet Jesus before you take your first step on a new journey.  He will give you the yes or no that you need to follow your dreams in the right direction.  How will you know if God approves or not, you ask?  Simple: there will be a sense of peace and calm within you - the Spirit of our Living God - that will give you the confidence to move forward; and a bold confidence that you can't explain, but a confidence that you know, that you know, everything is going to be OK!!

Trying to control your life equals losing control over your life.

"...He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the Lord had left him."

Judges 16:20

Sometimes we get so full of ourselves that we lose track of Christ -  a very dangerous way to live.  Therefore, no matter how great life is going for you, always remember, it is the love and power of God that is making your life amazing and not by anything you've done on your own.  So acknowledge him and keep on acknowledging him in your miracles and mountain moving victories.  Otherwise, the control and strength you feel in yourself will only be short-lived, because trying to control your life without Christ equals losing control over life completely.

Power!

"... 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."

Judges 15:14

I'm telling you when you are a child of God, when you surrender your life to him, there is no devil in hell, no demon in this world that can stop you from attaining the victories before you.  Yes, when you are God's child you speak to the mountains and they crumble and move out of your way.

Amazing is happening

"... And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched."

Judges 13:19

Stop from the hustle and bustle and look: God is doing amazing in your life and you definitely don't want to miss it.

Watch out! Mountains are gonna move

"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah..."

Judges 11:29

My oh my, when the Spirit of God comes upon one, watch out - mountains are getting ready to move!!

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The shadows of the mountains

"Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men."

Judges 9:35

Are your fears real?  Are your fears something from reality that you've let grow stronger and stronger in your mind by feeding them with, "what if's?"; are your fears tormenting you because of what has happened to you in the past or because of what the world says is going to happen?  My friends, God does not rule you with fear and torment, the devil does.  Therefore, if fear has you handicapped, tormented, and afraid to move forward, then you've gotten in the wrong line of who you are worshipping - it's time to step out of that line for good and get in the right line - the line of Christ.  His line gives ease and victory with no torment allowed whatsoever.  

So, step in the Good Line - step in the God-line. 

It is time for you to kick fear in the face and move past it, and having God as your leader is the only way it will happen.

Follow no man

https://davidmathiraj.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/everlasting.jpg

But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The Lord God will rule over you."

Judges 8:23

Follow no man!  Follow only God!  

For man leads to destruction, but God leads to life everlasting.

GET UP!!!

"During that night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands."

Judges 7:9

GET UP! GO!  

My friend, the Lord is giving you the victory so go and take it already.

If you will take the first step...

The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you save and save Israel out of Midian's hand.  Am I not sending you?"

"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest... and I am the least in my family."

The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianitesies together...

Peace! Do not be afraid.  You are not going to die."

Judges 6:14-16, 23

Like Gideon, you may be afraid, you may feel weak, you may feel like the challenge before you is impossible; yes, you may already feel defeated.  However, what you feel means nothing compared to who God is and what he can do for you.  Therefore, take that first bold step of faith, no matter how fearful you are, and from there God will carry you forward into victory.

Go! Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?

“... Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.  Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?”

Judges 4:14

Go already!  Today is your day.  God has already done the work for you; he’s already gone where you’ve been wanting to go and given you the victory - yes, he’s already cleared the path for you.  So what are you waiting for?  Why do you fear?  Yes, it will take some deep faith, some deep determination, and it may not be as easy as you want, but it’s yours... now go and take it.

When we cry out to God

“Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer...”

Judges 3:15

As humans we constantly find ourselves falling off the wagon of God.  However, God knows that we are human and not perfect - not even close.  So once we realize that we have made a mess of our lives and have lost sight of God, all we have to do is cry out to him;  no matter how many mistakes, he hears us; he turns his heart to us and sends us his protection and blessing.  He will put us back on track and load us back up on his wagon.  From there, our messes will become blessings, our mistakes will be miracles in the making, and we will be thrust into a whole new level of Christ-likeness. 

God is so good and we are so blessed.

When we refuse to give up our evil practices and stubborn ways...

"... They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.  Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, "...I will no longer drive out any of the nations Joshua left when he died.  I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did."

Judges 2:19,20-22

When we continually ignore the commands of the Lord, he has no choice but to let go and let us walk in our own stubborn ways.  We must remember that the Lord is polite and will not force us to do anything we do not want to do, including following him or following ourselves - our selfish ways.  So, let's not blame God when the world comes against us and darkness is winning. For we have made the choices for such consequences to be happening.  Instead let's repent, turn back to God and seek him and all his compassion. He loves us so much and is filled with so much mercy, he will turn his face back on us; he will shine his glory down; he will defeat the enemies against us; our lives will be bright again.  Yes, God is so good! And, although we make terrible choices against him, he forgives us when we repent.  He loves us, friends, he truly loves us.  Therefore, whatever the messes may be, turn to the Lord and give him back all the control.  

Why do we disobey God?

”... “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give your forefathers... Yet you have disobeyed me.  Why have you done this?  Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”

Judges 2:1-3

Why is it that when we get prayers answered we begin to take advantage of the Lord our God?  Why is it that once we get our prayers answered we put God aside and decide we want more?  Friends it is time to be content with one answered prayer at a time.  For until we do we will never be satisfied and we will live in a constant roller coaster - up and down, up and down.  So let’s enjoy each and every prayer that comes to pass and take advantage of not one of them.  As we learn to do this, I believe more and more of our prayer requests will come to pass and our lives will be one steady stream of peace, love, joy, life, and sunshine; full of all of God’s good glory.

Broken promises

“And Jephath made a vow to the Lord…” 
(Judges 11:30)

Whatever promises we speak - especially in times of dire stress, anxiety, anger, and haste – be prepared to follow through; if you don’t, and you do not seek forgiveness for making such promises, then, like Jephath, you will eventually eat your words.

Hence, adhere to these very wise words, Be 
“…slow to speak…”. 
(James 1:19)