Let God get the Glory

What a financial roller coaster we have been riding for the last 2 years. Every time the economy or some corporate profits take a dip you hear the word - downsizing. It is because downsizing is one way you can increase your profitability. So some employees are let go so the company can be more successful.

God believes in downsizing too. In God's case it is when He takes things away from us. It may be a job, a favorite activity, or a beloved friend.

Yet when God downsizes in our lives it is always because the bigger blessing is on the other side.

In Judges 7:2 God downsized Gideon's army when it didn't seem to make any sense at all. Year after year the Midianites had invaded Israel during harvest time. They stole the harvest and no one had been able to stop them.

So God calls Gideon even though Gideon argues that he is maybe the least qualified guy around. Of course, this happens a lot in the Bible and still today; we forget who is equipping us.Well, Gideon gets an army of 32,000 men to go against a Midianite army of 132,000 men!

Yet, the Bible says,"the Lord said to Gideon, 'You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands.'"Okay, in this case downsizing does not seem the way to be more successful. I'm sure Gideon didn't laugh, but I can't help it. Outnumbered four to one, and he's got too many men?

God tells him to let go anyone who is afraid, and suddenly Gideon has 22,000 men. Now he's outnumbered about six to one.After God has him downsize again, Gideon has 300 men left and he's outnumbered more than 40 to 1 when God says, "Perfect size," and that measly sized army wins the battle, and the Midianites aren't seen again!

So why did God downsize? God gave His reason to Gideon,". . . in order that Israel may not boast against Me that her own strength has saved her.

"Throughout the Bible you will see that God loves to win major victories with inadequate resources. He arranges mismatches and impossible situations so we will see how big He is and He will get all the glory!

God knows that I have pride issues and tend to try and do things using our my own resources. But, than God puts us (Juan and I) in situations where, like Gideon, we're left realizing, "If there's a victory here, it's going to have absolutely nothing to do with me."

This way He gets the glory He deserves.

So if you find yourself out-manned, out-gunned, and under-resourced -
if it seems like God has been cutting you back and putting limitations on you - in short, downsizing you - realize this may very well be the introduction to an amazing victory!
God is working His own addition and subtraction problems . . . and in His hands there is no problem working the problem.John puts it this way:

"He must become greater; I must become less."

As God reduces you He is increasing the amount of Him there is in the situation. He's been downsizing you so there can be more of Him, so He can show you a victory bigger than you ever thought you could be a part of. God isn't downsizing so you'll lose, He's downsizing you for a victory so big that only He can get the glory for it.

Blessings,
Pam