READ Judges 7
God uses Gideon’s 300 men to rout the entire Midianite army.

INSIGHT
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” is the work of the Lord accomplished
(Zechariah 4:6). Few stories illustrate that principle more clearly than that of Gideon and
his army of 300. God wants prepared men to fight His battles with His weapons in His
way. His weapons are not earthly but spiritual. His ways are higher than our ways, and
His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We want to offer God our strength and our
weapons and our insight but He does not need them. We need Him. Rather than trying
to get God to accept our plans, strategies, and goals, we ought to strive to understand
His. His way is the way of victory.

PRAYER
Because the Lord is our victory, we praise Him and rest in His care:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
Proclaim his deeds among the peoples.  
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
Tell about all his wondrous works!  
Boast in his holy name; let the hearts
Of those who seek the Lord rejoice
(Psalm 105:1-3).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The heart is more deceitful than anything else,  
And incurable — who can understand it?  
I, the Lord, examine the mind, I test the heart,
To give to each according to his way,
According to what his actions deserve.
Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;
Save me, and I will be saved, for you are my praise
(Jeremiah 17:9-10, 14).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this
affirmation to the Lord:
If you keep my commands
You will remain in my love,
Just as I have kept my Father’s commands
And remain in his love (John 15:10).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• Greater commitment to the Lord
• The work of specific Christian ministries for which you are concerned
• Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
This is the day the Lord has made;
Let’s rejoice and be glad in it
(Psalm 118:24).