Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.” Judges 6:36-37
Gideon offered up a piece of actual fleece, but all he was asking for was a sign as to what the Lord would have him do. Paraphrasing the verse Gideon said “if you wet this fleece but the ground stays dry (not something that could typically happen in nature) then I will know that you will use me the way you have said”.
Sometimes when my husband and/or I are uncertain as to what the Lord’s will is in a particular situation we will pray and offer up fleece to God. That just means we are saying “God we really want to do your will, but we are uncertain as to what you would have, so we are offering up fleece.” Now I might offer up something like this to the Lord as “fleece” – “Lord if my husband mentions this thing or says he has a leading about this, I will know that it is from you and that we should move forward.”. It is just a reverent way of saying, “Father, lead me in the way that you would have me go.”
This is completely different than a prayer that says “God, if you are real, then let me win the lottery.” That is a prayer of disbelief. (Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1).
If we are going to pray to God, that prayer needs to be a heartfelt plea, not a rub the genie bottle or “Let’s make a deal”.
When I was a baby believer and didn’t know the bible, I was discouraged from offering up fleece and told that it was testing God and that it was sin. Now, the scripture absolutely says do not test God (“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.” Deuteronomy 6:16). But, clearly to offer up fleece, seeking God’s will and direction is something completely different.
All prayer, and the way in which God receives it, depends on our heart. (“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 & “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, Psalm 119:2”). If our desire is God’s will in every situation. We can trust that God will answer that prayer. And if our prayer is one seeking the certainty of His will, He will direct our path. (Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6).
God wants to lead, direct and guide us. But our heart has to desire it and we must seek it. And, we need to be careful when we think we are offering up fleece and ask ourselves am I offering up fleece or playing “Let’s make a deal?”
I pray that today we would have a stronger desire to be lead by God and that in all things we would seek His will and not our own. I pray that we would not pray genie in a bottle/let’s make a deal prayers, but would instead trust God, submit to Him and desire His will in our lies. Offer up deep, heart felt, prayers and see how God responds. It will bless your socks off.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and if you have been praying genie in a bottle/let’s make a deal prayers and not getting much of a response, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (http://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer outlined there. He desires to forgive and bless you. Pray that prayer and experience his forgiveness, Love and Leading. Once you do, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
