The Gideon Test

Judges 6:36-40

Then Gideon said to God, "You said you would help me save Israel. I will put some wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the wool but all of the ground is dry, then I will know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said." And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning and squeezed the wool, he got a full bowl of water from it.

Then Gideon said to God, "Don't be angry with me if I ask just one more thing. Please let me make one more test. Let only the wool be dry while the ground around it gets wet with dew." That night God did that very thing. Just the wool was dry, but the ground around it was wet with dew.

My sister told me about the Gideon test a friend of her's has for his future spouse. I think this is a great idea! Rather than wondering who the right girl is he has three things he's looking for as signs she's "the one" when he meets here and gets to know her. I think this is a great idea! Why not ask God for clear signs of a future spouse?

I have a list (ABC's of Love posted on my FB account) and that's great and all, but at the same time I hate that feeling of meeting a guy and for a split second having the thought wondering if he could be OTIS (Out There In Someplace). I feel like I'm wasting my time with that and then going through my ABC list and trying to see if he has these qualities, but with the Gideon test I would clearly know! I feel by going through the ABC list right away I try to fit any guy into that list and that's not what it's all about. I like the idea of the Gideon test because it allows me to not go straight to the ABC list and just get to know a friend first rather than seeing where he measures on the ABC list. With the Gideon test God will clearly give me a sign when I meet OTIS.

Like my sister's friend I won't tell anyone what the Gideon test things are (to prevent someone from trying to fulfill the Gideon test - not to mention a friend might be a part of the Gideon test), but I've prayed over one thing and have one so far. I don't know if I'll have more than one Gideon test, but for now I have one.

Just to give you an idea of what an example would be think of Abraham's servant at the well who asked for a sign of a women who would water the camels as well as get him water. The test is specific, but mine is not super odd like asking for water for my camels... because my camels are a special breed of camels who have a continuous supply of water in their humps and don't need to be watered. Then again, he could ask to put gas in my car... if only I could figure out how to make my car like my continuous water supply camels.

I heard back from MeySen...

I just got an e-mail today from MeySen.

I didn't get the job. My heart is so sad. I have no other words to describe how I feel in this moment.

I do know God has a plan and apparently MeySen is not in that plan right now. I know the question I'm going to be asked a lot is, "What are you going to do now?" As of right now my answer is, "Trust God."

I have no other option.

He Leadeth Me: Oh blessed thought!

I'll often have a song I haven't heard in a long while come to mind and the lyrics are so fitting for the time it comes to mind. I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this, but the latest song is an old hymn "He Leadeth Me." Usually it's a more contemporary song, but I figured I'd take a moment and read the lyrics and not just sing along with my iPod since there is such vintage language in this hymn. Here's the lyrics for those who aren't familiar with this hymn, or haven't heard it in a while:

He leadeth me: Oh blessed thought!

Oh words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, Where'er I be,

still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

(Refrain)

He leadeth me, he leadeth me,

by his own hand he leadeth me;

his faithful follower I would be,

for by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

by waters still, o'er troubled sea,

still 'tis his hand that leadeth me.

(refrain)

Lord, I would place my hand in thine,

nor ever murmur nor repine;

content, whatever lot I see,

since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

(refrain)

And when my task on earth is done,

when by thy grace the victory's won,

e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

since God through Jordan leadeth me.

(refrain)

After reading through the lyrics I was reminded being a faithful follower you have to allow God to lead if you are in Eden's beautiful garden or still waters as well as in deepest gloom or a troubled sea.

Lately I've been in a period of waiting. Life seems to be up in the air as to what is going to happen, but the one thing I know for sure is my hand is in God's hand ready for him to lead. I haven't always realized God's plan is far better than anything I could ever plan, but though these past few years I've learned to trust God and give him my hand and I've seen that although I don't know what God's plan is going to be the next step he's given (one step at a time) has been far greater than I could have ever imagined.

I will be honest, waiting is not easy. I'm a planner, I like to know what could happen in multiple scenarios. Even though God has allowed to see some things where I'm being led (I'm suppose to go to Japan, but when and how is what I'm waiting to find out and OTIS is out there in someplace, but who he is and when I meet him is another question) waiting is still not easy. Even when I know what is coming just not how or when it is still hard to wait... actually it might even make waiting harder because it's a light at the end of the tunnel, but who knows how much of the tunnel I have left to go through. It's in times of the unknown waiting I remind myself of how faithful God has been in leading me and trust he will continue to lead. So while I wait I will not complain or worry, because his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.