The Pickern Prayer Gram

Dear Prayer Partners

Thank you for praying for Gene. His hand is a doing OK. He has been really sick from the antibiotics. The doctor had to switch his medicine, but now he is better. Please pray that the medicine works and he does not get an infection. Also pray that his hand heals quickly.

Also thank you for praying for Wilfrido’s baby. She is doing better and is out of the hospital. She is not completely well and continues to need your prayers. There is something going around that is affecting babies with high fevers and vomiting. Please pray that God would place His hand on these little ones.

I have been reading in the book of Judges about Gideon. His name means warrior. At this point,he had already seen the miracles of the fleeces. God had just told him how to choose 300 men to go into battle against the enemy. He had seen God move and he had obeyed God in all things. Now, in Judges 7:9-11 God tells him to go down into the camp, that He has given it into his hand, but if he is afraid to go down into the camp to take it, to go that same night and take with him his servant Purah down into the camp. He tells them that when they get there they will hear what the people say and they will be strengthened to go down against the camp.

So Gideon, the warrior, took his servant and went down into the camp. This is a very important story because it tells me that God understands our fears. We see Gideon, a warrior – afraid. He “went down into the camp with his servant Purah.” God did not say to Gideon, “Gideon, didn’t you just see all that I did for you? What is wrong with you? I can’t believe you are afraid! You are on your own Big Boy!” No!! God did not say that. Not only did God not say that. He told Gideon how to overcome his fear. What a God!

Now please don’t misunderstand me. God doesn’t want us to live in fear. The Bible also says that He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7) We just serve a God who searches the heart and mind and knows each motive and exactly what we really need and what is best for us. There is no one like our God!

God told Gideon to take his servant Purah with him. Purah means branch. He is only mentioned in the Bible in these 2 verses. Why did God tell him to take this servant? We know that Purah was Gideon’s armor bearer. He also witnessed what Gideon heard that night. It could have been that he needed encouragement as well. My question to you is, are you a Gideon or a Purah? Has God placed you in a position of leadership or as servant? Either way, He sent both men to the camp and allowed both men to hear what was said and later gave both men the victory. He let both men experience His glory. We live in a troubled and very uncertain world. Place your fears in His capable hands and He will allow you to enter the enemy’s camp and take it. He has already conquered it for you; just take it.

Now all of us are Gideons – warriors, and all of us are Purahs – servants and branches. Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We can’t be the right kind of warriors without abiding in Christ. Purah was Gideon’s armor bearer. He made sure he had his armor before the battle. Judges 6:34 says: “But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself, and took possession of him…” (Amplified) Wow! That is the kind of armor I want!

I know I don’t normally “preach” (women don’t preach, we “share”) but I was so encouraged by this study in Judges that I just wanted to share it with you. I know times are tough right now and things are really frightening. I can hardly stand to watch the news without being scared. That is why I am grateful we serve a God bigger than the United States or the Dominican Republic or the world or even Satan!! Let’s just stay connected to Him and abide in Him. He is able to do all things.

In Christ,Gene and Julie
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