All In... A Daring Plan.

Can I just say that LOVING my times in God's Word every morning is an understatement?

I mean... sure, it's NOT perfect, but the Lord has a way of faithfully speaking through His Word.  DUH... that's HIS very words we're talking about.  Right?

This morning was no ordinary morning.  This morning was my kids' first day of school.  It was the day when I was supposed to wake up super early, have a "quiet" time, pray, make breakfast, wake kids up, and get them ready for school.  Well, let's just say that... they got up, had breakfast, and were ready for school in less time than I was planning on giving them (and me!).  First day of school.  First day.  First.  And I know it won't be the last time that happens.  I just know.  And that's ok.

Grace.

And in His perfect grace, He brought me to today's reading in 1 Samuel 14:1-15.

Wow!  Can I just say... WOW!

I needed these 15 verses of Scripture today.

So, if you're ready this post, STOP.  Get your Bible, open to 1 Samuel 14 and read the first 15 verses in this chapter...

I'll wait...  

Go!  

Read it!

Okay.  Sooo...  Jonathan's "Daring Plan" to defeat the Philistines was nothing short of... DARING!  He was going to take on this giant army, while his father's coward group of Israelite-Soldiers-Wanna-Be, which were all hiding in holes, caves, rocks, cisterns... (yes, hiding!).   And you know what really spoke to me?  Jonathan's vision for this plan was to somehow climb those cliffs, trusting that God would fight the battle for them.  In verse 6 (I love this!), he says, "Perhaps the Lord will help us, for NOTHING CAN HINDER THE LORD.  He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few."  WOW!

WOW!!!!

So, with that faith, Jonathan proceeds to climb that cliff with "both hands and feet", verse 13 tells us.  BOTH HANDS AND FEET.  Wow!  He went ALL IN!  He trusted the Lord, then did all he could, giving all he had, to climb that cliff.  He faced the Philistines with both FAITH and ACTION.

I want that same faith living in me.  Don't you?  The faith that assures me that I can conquer anything with the Lord.  That He can win ANY battle for me.  

And the other side of this beautiful story, was that Jonathan was not alone.  He had an armor bearer who not only believed with Jonathan.  He also fought WITH and FOR Jonathan. Verse 7 shows Jonathan's armor bearer's trust and dedication to him, "Do what you think is best,...I'm with you completely, whatever you decide (NLT)."  The NIV says, "I'm with you heart and soul."   And that reminds me that I'm not to fight my battles without a friend, a partner, someone to keep me accountable, to believe for and with me, and to fight with me when needed.  At the end of those 15 verses, it says that Jonathan and his armor bearer killed 20 men that day.  

Okay... count with me...

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19...20!

Sometimes we read stories in the Bible where the Israelites killed tens of thousands of people.  I can't even wrap my mind around that.  But I CAN visualize the killing of 20 individuals.  NO EASY TASK... right?  

Please, don't tell me you could do that alone!  Jonathan couldn't.  I KNOW I sure couldn't!

AND THEN... the Lord sealed the deal!  He sent an earthquake at the end!  WHAT!!!!  

So epic!!!

I love how God works!

So, here's my plan of action right now. 

1. As I fight my battles, I'm choosing to believe that God can win any of them for me! 

2.  I need to fight with BOTH HANDS and FEET.  Go ALL IN!

3.  I need to partner with a good friend (or spouse) to fight the battles with me.

How about you?  Did you take the time to read 1 Samuel 14:1-15?  Do it!  Are you facing some battles right now?  Do you believe that He will fight for you, if you trust in Him and go all in?  Do you have a friend, a partner, an armor bearer to fight with and for you?