“Who are you as a parent, Jesus? How do you parent us?”
I ask this question at the beginning of the year. True to character, He answers me. Again and again. Each time in a different way, showing yet another facet of His Fatherhood.
Recently He reveals himself as a daddy sitting on the edge of his seat, watching his kids move in life; watching for those whose hearts turn to Him. Have a question? He can’t wait to answer it! Need help in a difficult situation? He can hardly stay seated because He wants to show up and show himself strong through you!
Through the Old Testament judges and kings, God was waiting, constantly on the alert for any whose heart was toward the Lord.
The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
2 Chronicles 16:9a
Think the judges and prophets: Deborah and Barak, Gideon, Obadiah, Elisha, Samson. And the kings: David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Hezekiah.
Each lived in perilous times. Each had difficult, even impossible circumstances. But God. God showed up and always won. God is fanatical about making His Name great. He is obsessed with making His glory and awesomeness known! And to accomplish this, He loves to use faulty human beings. We are weak, doubtful and often scared beyond measure. But, if we can turn toward Him and take that step in faith, He shows up. He destroys the enemy. He wins battles. He works miracles and exhibits His supernatural powers. Through us!
What is that step that He’s asking you to take? That outrageous, preposterous thing He is asking you to do? That thing that might make you look stupid. That thing in which you know people are going to laugh you to scorn and call you a fool. What is it?
Gideon looked like a fool. Taking an army of 300 men against the hundreds of thousands of Amalekites. And Gideon was pretty scared; he needed reassurance from God 3 different times before he went. Judges 6 – 8
Samson looked the fool, blindly walking toward the temple pillars and leaning his weight into them. The Philistines roared in gleeful derision — till the building collapsed, killing them all. Judges 13 – 16
Jehoshaphat led his army out against the Syrians, with the musicians as the front line. The musicians! The guys who weren’t armed and couldn’t fight to save their lives — they were the front line! Imagine that. What a fool Jehoshaphat must have looked. God showed up. Obliterated the Syrian army that day. 2 Chronicles 17 – 20
Seems God likes this kind of thing. Impossible situation; miraculous deliverance. And God seems to have a flair for incredible smashing successes. He does His stuff in an over-the-top, ridiculously excessive, extraordinary manner.
How awesome is that?
How are you going to let God show up in your ‘impossible’ situation right now?
Step into faith. God is searching for hearts turned toward Him.
Prepare to be confoundedly astonished. =)