Whoever is fearful and afraid

 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

Judges 7:3 (NKJV)

Yesterday, we saw that God wants to take the glory over every situation in our lives, and is not pleased when anyone takes it. So, in this victory over the Midianites, God told Gideon to reduce the men because He wants it to be evident that it was not by the help of man but by the help of God that victory was received. The problem here now is that, “How was Gideon going to select His few men to go to battle with him?” 

God told Gideon to tell those who are fearful and afraid to go back home. This is one of the issues with crowds. You do not know those who actually are there because they believe in what is being done. A lot are there because they just followed the crowd. I was amazed to see that about twenty two thousand of them actually went back in the claims of being fearful and afraid. That is about 69 percent of the initial thirty two thousand. It meant that about two out of every three persons were afraid. This is outrageous. But why is it important that the fearful go back?

It is important because fear is usually the first thing God deals with before He sends people. He doesn’t want to use fearful people who will turn back in the middle of the battle. Does that mean, we would not feel fear at all. No, on the contrary, fearful people are people who have believed the lies of fear, but God wants people who believe His words even though there are valid reasons to be fearful. They still hold unto the word of God and go in faith. Faith and fear both paint pictures and words in our heart, the one we believe determines who we are, faithful or fearful people. 

Therefore, check your life, are you a fearful person? Have you believed the suggestion of fear? This is the time to come out of it. What have you believed? Is it the doctor’s report, or your line manager’s report, or your friend’s report or the devil’s report being painted in your heart. Whatever it is, you have accepted the suggestion of fear. Today, you are putting an end to that fear, and rising up in faith, saying to that mountain that it shall become a plain today. It may not happen immediately. But you do not give up. The same way you believed the report of fear, even when you haven’t actually seen it manifest. Put that energy in the word of God and hold unto it. Arise in faith and cast out every form of fear in your life.

PRAYER

Father, I choose to hold unto your word, that faith may be built up in me. I reject every suggestion of fear in my life. I accept the will of God upon my life by faith. I declare victory, health, wealth, sound mind, wisdom and prosperity is mine in Jesus Name.