"The Second Step To Success"

"Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him..." Judges 6:27a

Yesterday we talked about the difference in assuming we have heard from God and praying to see if it was Him. Just because we "assume" it is God, doesn't mean that it is. Therefore, we need to pray and seek Him for His will and plan. Perhaps what we are assuming truly is Him, but perhaps it is not.

Once we have sought the Lord and heard from Him on the matter, that is not the end of it, that is just the first step. The next step is to do what He has told you. When Gideon was met by the angel's salutation, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor" and he told him that he was going to save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon made no assumptions. He "tried the spirits" to see if this was God. Some may say that Gideon was acting in unbelief-- maybe so-- but at least he made sure so that all room for doubt was removed. Perhaps what we consider lack of faith in praying about what we believe may be God is wisdom instead.

Gideon discovered that it was indeed God and His plan. But there was more to fulfilling God's plan that just being reassured that it was God. There was obedience that had to be walked out. The first step to success is knowing that you have truly heard from the Lord. The second step is doing what He tells you to do. You can be convinced (by an angel or God Himself) that what you have heard is definitely God, but if you don't act upon it you will not succeed.

God removed all Gideon's doubts and fears that this was Him, but Gideon had to then act on what God told him to do if the Midianites were going to be defeated. Once you discover that this is not just an assumption, but truly God, then you are going to have to get up and act on what He has told you. Once you do, success will follow.

Have a great day. Discovering that what you heard is from God is only the first step. You then have to act upon what He has spoken. Then success will come.

For further reading:
Judges 6 and 7
1 John 4:1

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.