Judges chapter 6 tells the wonderful story of Gideon and his walk of faith with God.
21 Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. 22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace.
Gideon after he had finished talking with God, Gideon waited. Waited on the lord to speak back to him. And God did not disappoint. Gideon receives assurance that God will be with him. I know the fight is never meant to be fought alone. I remember in school their were some people you just didn't mess with because they didn't fight alone. They fought with extra company.... If you fought one you had to fight the whole family so everyone had confidence before the fight because they all knew they had help in the fight. I believe God works in similar fashion, he desires for us to have confidence in his providence while in the tough times in life.
That is the beauty of walking with God. If you walk in his presence you want to give an acceptable sacrifice. Judges 6 should excite us because the closer we are to him the more we want to give liberally of ourselves. The bible says present your bodies as a "living sacrifice" Holy and acceptable then your faith will begin to grow. To present my body means I have to lay something of value at the alter. It is the sacrifice that will bring you face to face with him.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:6 Sometimes our insecurities are so intertwined into the fabric of who we are that we hold onto them for dear life. Painful memories, unforgiveness, missed opportunities and bitterness rob us of the security attached to God's will.This attachment to our insecurities can cause us to sacrifice our peace. Isnt it ironic that at the moment
Gideon sought to give God a perfect sacrifice was the moment he found peace in his situation. It was in the sacrifice that Gideon finds peace and calls God Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is peace.) As you pray on today ask where are areas you struggle with peace. The place of Gideons insecurity became his place of peace. What areas are you searching for peace in your life.