Author: Lynden McGriff

Today’s Reading II Kings 15-16; Matthew 21

Throughout history, there has always been a struggle of power . This struggle can be between good and evil. The struggle can be between the light and the darkness. The struggle could be between power and submission. There’s always a balance.

In school, there was a quote in science : Nature does not like a vacuum,  it will always have a balance. Throughout the scriptures, we hear about the balance between good and evil. We know that in the midst of a storm we will find refuge and stability. God uses these scriptures to remind us of how good he is in the midst of the good and the bad.

In these chapters of the II Kings, there is a chronological illustration of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel. The nation of Israel was split after the reign of King Solomon. When Samuel appointed the first king of the combined nations of Israel,  Saul was the king over the 12 nations of Israel. Then in succession the crown and kingdom went to David and then to Solomon . After Solomon’s reign, the kingdom was split into two nations:   Judah ( tribes of Benjamin and Judah) and other 10 nations under Israel. The lineage of Judah is descendants from David. 

As we read in these chapters, we see that the kings of Judah were not perfect, but they tried their best to continue the lifestyle of their father David. They had some hiccups and some bruises, but they continue to strive to be in accordance with God. The kings of Israel did not attempt to stay with the laws of God.  The kings of Israel continued to not have any regard to God.  

In Matthew, Chapter 21,  Christ makes an illustration of the two sons and the vineyard.  The two sons are asked by the father to perform a task. The first son says he’s not going to do it, but actually does the task. The second son says he will do the task and does not do it.   Both of the nations in II Kings came from the same lineage.  One nation tries to follow the commandments of God, that’s the nation of Judah. The other nation of Israel knows what the commandments are as well, but they decide not to follow in the path.

Many times we are presented with good and bad in our lives. Sometimes the bad can become overwhelming as for the kings of Israel. Sometimes we have glimpses of light and hope as with the kings of Judah. But at the end of all of our crying and in our joy, we have to understand that God is in the midst of it all. God‘s hand is in the midst of everything that we go through. God is protecting us and giving us glimpses of hope to hold onto so that we do not become disengaged with life.

May God give us glimpses of light throughout this week and throughout our life so that we can show others in their  darkness light and hope.

 

 

Today’s Reading: Jonah ; Matthew 11

Today’s readings give us a glimpse into our callings or our appointments that God has given to us. One of the biggest discussion points that I have come across in the last several years is “What am I here for?” Too many times we get caught up in searching for “what” we are intended to do. Many times we put too much thought and too much effort into trying to be something that we or others have put on us. By training, trade, and profession I am a pharmacist.  But first and foremost,  I am first a person who is dedicated to helping others. Many times we are held into the profession that we have without expanding who we are. 

In the book of Jonah, God appoints certain elements of His creation to do His will. Each of these elements completes the assignment that God has for them at that given time and moment. God has appointments for us that are not going to be lifelong appointments.  Sometimes the appointments are for a second, a moment, an hour, or more.  We have to be open and obedient to His will to ensure that we can complete the assignment. 

God appointed Jonah 

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.””

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the wind and sea

“But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the great fish

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the plant 

“Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God appointed the worm 

“But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.”

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The depth and the breath in which God can appoint is truly amazing.  From this brief book of Jonah, we can see that when God appoints anything many things and miracles can happen. As we are presented with this new week,  let us listen to God and see if we can hear the brief or long appointments that he has for us. 

Be blessed 

 

Today’s Reading : I Kings 19-21; II Chronicles 17; Psalms 129; Matthew 1

Perseverance. Integrity. Tenacity.

Sometimes in life, the hardest thing that we can do is to keep going. Sometimes we feel that too much is put on us and we want to give up. We want to stop the course of our race. We want to give into complacency. 

Over the summer we have been able to enjoy the fun filled adventures of sports ball. The girls have been playing softball. Oliver played basketball from October until two weeks ago. The one thing that Jillian and I constantly remind the kids to continue to play and don’t give up. We as a family made a commitment to the teams and to the organizations they need us to stay committed to the team and not give up. 

Many times throughout the summer, the traveling was overwhelming. There are many times that the heat of the event was overwhelming. There were times where we lost multiple rounds of softball or basketball. But we, as a family, decided that we were going to continue to persevere through the hardships of the sport. We would not give up. We will continue to push forward for everything that we stand for. At the end of the season, we all felt accomplished and our integrity for the group didn’t falter because we did not give up.

 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

I Kings 19:3-8

In this chapter of Kings, Elijah wants to give up.  He just completed some of the most grueling part of his ministry. He wants to give up, he runs away and he is given comfort from God in the form of the shade under a broom tree. The broom tree has several meanings in the Bible and it is a focal point of rest, restoration, and resolution.  Even though Elijah wants to give up, he still submits to God‘s will. God understands his heart and his mindset. God allows Elijah to retire from his ministry, but he sets up the way to continue his ministry.

Sometimes we want to give up. Sometimes we want to just let it all fall apart. But if we are in a relationship with God, He will allow us to continue his ministry in a different manner. He will set up everything to make a smooth transition. 

No matter what you’re going through.  No matter what the circumstances are, God has your best mind. God sees and hears what you’re going through. If we continue to connect with Him, he will show us ways to grow and transition to the next level of our ministry and in our lives.

Today’s Reading : I Kings 10-11; II Chronicles 9; I Timothy 6

The wealth and  the beauty of King Solomon have been told so many times it not only transcends to Christian religion, but it goes to other religions. This is a testament of how impactful and how powerful Solomon’s connection with God. Solomon is even referenced by Christ and the beatitudes.  

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Solomon was visited by the queen of Sheba to be a confidant or an advisor for her. Sheba actually is a place that is one of the great empires in the Arabia and African regions during this time. Solomon’s wisdom was reported throughout the land which influence was spread to Sheba, which was a place of prestige and of education.  For the queen of Sheba to come to visit, Solomon was an important meeting. It doesn’t say how long she was there, but it could’ve been for quite some time. From this, we can see that Solomon was a man of wisdom and wealth. The gifts that the queen brought to him was equivalent to $3.6 million during that time. The calculations for our current time are astronomical.

Solomon had wealth. Solomon had wisdom. He was known all over the land for his talents. The most important thing we have to remember, is these talents were gifts from God and that were used for God and the betterment of his glory. Solomon had a great relationship with God.  

“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We don’t have to be perfect, but we must continue to make progress.  When Solomon lost his focus and relationship with God,  he lost his connection.  God tried to re-establish the relationship. Solomon allowed others to influence him and take his heart away from God.  This happens to everyone.  

We now have the Holy Spirit to help us constantly.  The Holy Spirit is also known as God the Spirit.  We now are able to be in relationship with God all of that time.  With this connection and our realization of progress and not perfection we are able to grow with him.  It all starts with the relationship.  With the relationship,  we have the access to all of the riches and wisdom that God has for us.  Let us be aware and ready for what God has for us: wisdom, wealth, and relationships.  

Be blessed 

 

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 29-31; I Thessalonians 4

“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification;”

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭1-3; 9‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Many of us know that we need to put God first in our lives. We go to church. We sing songs. We read the scriptures. We do the Small Groups. But are we putting God first? Now many of us have actually been able to reflect and put God first at every point of our daily life and our complete lives.

Even though we might have Him in our first thought of our lives, sometimes we can forget. Sometimes we get busy with other things. Sometimes we get distracted.  God knows that it is hard for us to continue to be in his presence, but He is always open for us to be there. He is a loving God and He wants us to continuously come back and connect with him.

In Thessalonians,  we see where the new church is having the same problems that we are having. Sometimes we put things before God and try to fill his place with the worldly things. But after many times, we find that those worldly items cannot fulfill us the same way that God. God understands our will and our want to connect with him. He is able to give us that fulfillment that these earthly items cannot fulfill. God is also loving the way that he is able to forgive us of all of our mistakes and misdoings.   May we be blessed this week, and give the grace that God has give us in the many times we don’t put him first.

Today’s Reading :  Proverbs 3-5; Romans 10  

As a parent, manager, or a leader, one of the most important things that you can do is be consistent.  When you are consistent and your people understand who you are then they are more apt to follow and commit to you. 

As a parent,  we have to guide our children to make the best decisions with the resources they have available.   Being a dad is sometimes really challenging. I try to give and show my love to my children hourly, if not daily.  I am continually letting them know how much I love them and cherish them.  I also have to make the hard decisions that are not always joyful or happy, such as leading them and directing them with chores or consequences for their actions.  This is what a dad is about… loving and guiding my children consistently and lovingly to become responsible adults.  

The challenge is being consistent.  In my early years and sometimes now I will give so many directions that it can create confusion and anxiety with the kids.  I had to take a step back and distill the information into three to four main points and then be consistent with the delivery.  I also found that a little reward or sweetness to the interaction goes a long way.  

In the passages that we have today, is a great blueprint for being consistent. In Proverbs we have Solomon, speaking to his son.  In Romans, Paul is giving the Romans the same instructions of being consistent with the spreading of the gospel.  Many times we believe that if we do it once, it would be sufficient.  But these examples show us that we must be consistent and gentle with our communications with each other. 

 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you…

 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof…

 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭11‬, ‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭10‬, ‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding…

 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth…

 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬, ‭7‬, ‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

Romans 10:14-16

 

Let us be consistent in all that we do. Be Blessed. 

 

Today’s Reading : II Samuel 13-14, Acts 28 

We have all done it. We have made an assumption about someone or something on the first appearance. This is how human nature works. We are given evidence and ideas from our previous encounters with others and we make a generalized guess of something new. From this introduction we can make a better informed decision from our interactions with that person to create a more informed decision of that person. Many people could say this is the “judging a book upon its cover” with first impressions.

In our passages today, we have two individuals who on the surface can be seen in through the lenses of the author completely differently, Absalom and Paul . After reading these passages several times, I see we have to dig deeper beneath the surface to see some of the aspects of each of these individuals.

In the final chapter of Acts, we are seeing the last interactions that are recorded for Paul aside from his letters to the church.  In this chapter and the previous chapters of Acts,  we see a full conversion and transformation of Paul.  We see him from the chief prosecutor and executioner of the earlier Christian to become the leading figure for the spread of Christianity throughout the world.  In this particular chapter, we witness an additional revelation as we dive deeper than the surface with the shipwreck and the other adventures.

 

“When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭28‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The people of the island did not know Paul.  They assumed that he was an evil man, but then they believed he was a “god”.  After a little while, the people actually were able to see who he was and Whose he was.  He manifests the Spirit and God allows him to witness unreachable people with unforeseen circumstances.  This interaction can be the reason people in this particular isolated island received the gospel.  Can you imagine the countless stories and miracles that happened because of the shipwreck? Sometimes the hardest things that we experience can be a window into how God is going to use you in the situation.  

How many times have we been in terrible situations and circumstances that we can’t imagine we are going to get out of, then God shows up and delivers us to something better? Now ask yourself, how did God use that situation to bring others to him? How has your relationship with Him created a safe space for others to see the goodness in the midst of adversity and allow you to invite them into His presence? 

A couple days ago, I was listening to one of TD Jakes’s sermons, the Threshing Floor. In portion of this sermon. He is speaking about the alabaster box. He speaks about how the alabaster can shield the essence of anything that’s in it. He compares us to the alabaster box. Some of the things that God has in store for us even people that are close to us cannot understand it until God is ready for us to open it. Just as the natives did not know about Paul’s true essence, how many people that we know do not know our true essence? How many of us do not know our true essence? What do we have to do or go through for God to show us our true essence? When we make this decision to see what beneath the surface, we have to rely on God to be in charge of everything, the highs and the lows.  

Be blessed 

Today’s Reading : 1 Samuel 26-27; 1 Chronicles 8; Acts 18

  

Based on the Webster 1828 definition:  Integrity is the entire, unimpaired state of any thing, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty.

Vocabulary.com states that integrity is “Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. It’s a personality trait that we admire, since it means a person has a moral compass that doesn’t waver. It literally means having “wholeness” of character, just as an integer is a “whole number” with no fractions.”

Throughout most of our lives, we have a moral compass which helps to guide and direct us into doing and living in a particular way. In today’s passage, we see during this point of Davis life his moral compass has strong integrity. Doing this point of his life, his father-in-law, Saul , is attempting to kill David.   This attempt doesn’t happen once or twice, but several times.  In each of these moments, David stands firm in his convictions of not harming God’s anointed.  In this particular point of the passage, others are pressuring him to act, but he doesn’t give in. 

”Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭6‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How many of us will have the integrity to leave something that we want or desire to do God’s will?

How many of us will allow the process of what God has in store for us to be given at the right time and not now when we want it?

What does God have in store for us and ready for us to receive if we let him give it to us, instead of grabbing it for ourselves? 

Think of it as a nice hot cup of coffee that he has for us, but will give it to us when it’s just right.  If we are in a rush the gift that is ready for us will scald us and not be as pleasant. 

Have integrity and wait. 

Be blessed

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 9-10;  Acts 8

 

There is a timeless curiosity and wonder of wishes.   Some of the stories that we have had have been told for millennia. One of the most told stories of wishes and their consequences is Aladdin. If you’re not familiar with Aladdin, a peasant finds a lamp that contains a genie. This genie can grant three wishes. Once the three wishes are completed then there are no more. One of the most interesting points of the story is that the genie gives the boundaries of the wish and once the wish has been granted, it cannot be reversed.

Many times in our lives we wish and hope for things to happen. We wish that we win the Powerball. We wish that we get this new job. We wish we had the love of our life. We wish for someone to return from the dead. But each of these wishes are out of our control. What if we did receive all of these wishes, what would the need or the necessity of faith be?

 

In today’s reading, and in the passage, the Israelites have wished, and begged for a king. The people of Israel were not satisfied with the leaders that God had given them for direction. They had complained for several hundred years. God gave them what they wished for. The first king that they received is Saul.

”But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

These are the boundaries and the consequences of the wish: 

”He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”“

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The king that was granted was the tallest and most handsome man that the people could have. He had all the things that would make a “great” king.  The only thing that separated Saul from truly loving God is his heart.  His heart was in the practice of the rituals, but not behind the essence of the ritual.  Saul wanted to please God by doing the correct thing, but not truly believing in the right thing. 

How many times do we try to do the right thing to please God? How many times do we try to say the right thing to please God? God is not concerned about the things, but the heart. The people of Israel didn’t want to do the heart search for God, they wanted to have someone do things for them.  The person who they received didn’t have the heart of God and didn’t give the people the things that they had hoped to receive.  God has all the things that are needed for us and  so much more in store for us if we accept him as the true king of our hearts and find peace in him. 

Be blessed 

Today’s Reading : Judges 7-8; Luke 22

If only I had $X,  I would be able to do a lot of things.  

If I could only get this degree, then I would be able to … 

If only, I had this job or career, things would be different.   

We often look at our circumstances and deficiencies in the midst of struggles. But we forget that God has a process and a plan in place for His glory to shine in the most unlikely places.  This is evident in the story of Gideon.  

In the beginning, Gideon was not a believer.  Gideon’s father and family decided to worship a different religion and gods.  Gideon had his doubts.  God sent an angel to talk to Gideon and let him know that he was the selected person to save Israel.  

”Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Not only did he ask for a sign,  Gideon ask for an assurance of the sign.  Once he received it, he was all in.  How many times do we ask for assurance and continue to ask for reinforcements?  We have to be able to listen and be confident in the answer. 

But to understand the thesis question, “How much do you need?” We have to look at the next passage.  

”The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬, ‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The army went from 33,000 to 300.  This is essentially 0.9% of the army.  The full army would have been still a diminutive amount compared to the armies of the Midianites and Amalekites which is compared to the sands of a beach.   The size of the opposing army to Gideon is an unfathomable amount of people. These are uber extreme odds. But  God created this situation to show His power and glory through the small things.  

He shows that if we put forth the 0.9% of faith, he will bring the 99.1% to gain the victory.  

Where are the areas in our life that we are trying to do the 99%, but God is asking for us to have the 0.9% of faith to all his glory to shine? 

How much do we need? 

Be blessed