Gutsy Faith’s “word for the year” is PREPARE. To be prepared is to be ready for something that’s ahead. One thing’s for sure…we all have battles. The problem is, we often go into battle unprepared for the fight that’s ahead.

Gideon was a man unprepared for what God believed he could do. In a time of great hardship and distress in Israel, God instructed Gideon that he would lead the fight against the dreaded Midianites, who ravaged the countryside and stole their harvests.

In Judges 6:12-16 God called Gideon a valiant warrior long before Gideon believed he could fight.

Fight Focus #1: God has a name for YOU based on who HE knows you are, not who you think you are.

Gideon immediately has excuses after hearing God’s invitation to lead the fight. It’s common to focus on our weakness when God asks us to do something great. We can acknowledge our weaknesses, but we must not get stuck in them.

God follows this angelic visit with another instruction before the battle. In Judges 6:25-27 the angel tells Gideon he must tear down his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, and sacrifice two bulls to the Lord on a newly built altar.

Fight Focus #2: An altar is an active place where offerings of attention, time, or sacrifice are given. Just like Gideon, we too, must tear down altars in preparation to fight for the call of God and the assignments He’s given us.

Even with the assurance of an angelic visit and the tearing down of a stronghold, Gideon is still reluctant. In Judges 6:36-40 he asks for a sign from God in the form of a fleece of wool. This act has become known as “fleecing,” which simply means, “God, I need you to give me a clear answer one way or another!” Although most of us don’t put out pieces of wool when we need to hear God speak, we do trust His voice in different ways. Author Mark Batterson says we can discover God’s voice in the Seven Languages of God: scripture, desire, doors, dreams, people, promptings, and pain.

Fight Focus #3: There will be times when you need immediate and clear answers from God. He will give them to you in ways you KNOW are from Him.

In the closing scene God patiently gives Gideon one more assurance as he prepares for the battle. In Judges 7:9-12 God assures him once more that He’s given the Midianites into his hands…but if he’s still afraid (which he is) he can go down into the enemy’s camp to hear a powerful message from an enemy soldier who has had a dream about Gideon. As Gideon and his servant, Purah, make their way into the camp and secretly hear the message about the dream from the soldier, they respond first with worship, and second, with a forge of confidence towards the battle.

Fight Focus #4: God will use any method possible to bring about His purposes and your role in His plans. He’ll even reroute your enemies, so you don’t have to.

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Episode 83: Prepare My Fight