Praying for Hope and Courage

By |Published On: July 5, 2019|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|


I read this morning about Shamgar… oh, you know him, right? 

Well, maybe you don’t know him, or maybe you don’t remember him. I think there may be only two verses about Shamgar in the Bible. He was one of the judges in Israel, and all that Scripture says about Shamgar is that he struck down 600 Philistines with an ox goad. Not a sword, not a spear, not an AK-47, but an ox goad; that is, the jawbone of an ox; basically, a stick. The man beat down 600 soldiers with a stick. Unbelievable! 

Now, I don’t know what he prayed before he took on his challenge, but he certainly could have prayed: “Lord, there are 600 Philistines set before me out there, could you take away half of them? Or even a hundred of them?” No, Shamgar accepted the situation as it was: One guy vs. 600 soldiers, one guy with only an ox goad and the God of Israel. I’m convinced he did not pray for the Philistines to disappear; no, Shamgar fought his way through all those men and earned himself 21 words in the Bible. Judges Chapter 3, verse 31 simply says that he defeated 600 soldiers singlehandedly and thus, saved Israel. 

Nowfriend that is trusting in the strength of the Lord; that is, believing that God is strong enough to meet any need. Shamgar could have written Psalm 20:7 where it says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Well, yeah! Shamgar must have heard Proverbs 18 say that the name of the Lord is a strong tower! Trust in Him and you can do anything. 

That’s why, for me, that one short verse in the book of Judges is, itself, a great lesson in God’s ability to do the incredible – almost unbelievable things – through one believer. That’s all, just one. And when one person trusts in God to do the impossible, well, everybody knows, everyone can see, that God is in on it.  

Friend, this is why the Lord delights in doing great things through you, one person. It’s so His power can show up best in your weakness, His strength is made more glorious through your infirmities and limitations. God looks all the more divine when He accomplishes something through the disadvantaged. It happened to Shamgar. It also happened to Gideon whose little army of 300 decimated a nation of the Midianites. God delights in picking out unlikely people – unskilled, ill-equipped and untrained – and he takes great joy in using people like this so that when the job is accomplished, there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that God is the one who gets the credit and the accolades and the glory.  

Today, you may not feel like you’re equipped to do much. You’re a Shamgar; you feel like you are a Gideon and you’re full of limitations. But please remember Philippians Chapter 4, verse 13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” It’s what I say to the Lord every morning when I get up in my wheelchair, “Lord Jesus, I can’t do this quadriplegia; really, I can’t. I’m so tired, I’m so weakbut I can do quadriplegia through you as you give me strength.” When I say that, I can be sure that as I move through my day, people will see it is in God’s strength that I live, not my own.  

That’s a pretty powerful Bible promise and there are lots of other amazing promises, they are, that you can lean on today. It’s why I want to send you this12-page laminated foldout detailing 100 best-loved Bible promises for hope and courage. Just visit me today at joniandfriends.orgJust ask for “Bible Promises for Hope and Courage” and start boasting in your weakness, for then, like Shamgar, God’s power will really show up in a powerful way! 

Previously aired on 8/28/09 as program #7130 and on 7/9/12 as program #7876. 
© Joni and Friends

 


Bible Promises

For Hope And Courage

Contains 100 of God’s promises of comfort and love for His children and addresses topics including loneliness, worry, contentment, courage, peace, assurance of salvation, guidance, and more.

This pamphlet is perfect for pastoral care, prayer ministries, lay counseling, personal devotions, outreach, and many other ministry situations.

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