Your Fleece

A friend and I were discussing the 'how-to's' of knowing God's will regarding specific requests and the conversation turned to signs. Signs from God as proof that what we think is the answer is really His answer. And we looked at Gideon who asked God for two signs, just to be sure that what God asked of Him was really for him and not for someone else. How many times do we do that? How many signs do we need before we agree with God? Before we take the plunge no matter if the fear has subsided? How many signs does it take before God stops giving them because we refuse to believe? Didn't Jesus have something to say about that?


There are several in my circle of proximity (those I rub shoulders with on a regular basis in my life) that are at this very point. They think they have heard a directive from God and now they want to be sure. They are putting out their fleece, so to speak, hoping God to be merciful in their uncertainty as they ask Him for proof. And I believe God is well pleased when we seek confirmation from Him on important matters of change. Let's just make sure we didn't buy the value-pack of fleece and have a ready-stack to set out until we feel comfortable with the decision. We may never feel comfortable because in our flesh we find ourselves hopeless inadequate. Which is exactly where God wants us - so we can be dependent on Him from start to finish. God tells us to not engage in fear; we may still feel it but we are not to invite it to tea. We are to act despite the fear.

This may sound wholly un-spiritual, but sometimes I think God just wants us to use the common sense He's given us, leaving our feelings out of the decision. Consider the feelings, be aware of them, but leave them out of the end decision. Feelings are fickle and tend to exaggerate. If God asks it of us, we seek His confirmation and He gives it, end of story. Go to it. Go on now, get!