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FOCUS VERSE: Barak replied to her, “If you’ll go with me, I’ll go; but if not, I won’t go.” —Judges 4:5 (CEB)

PRAYER OF PRESENCE:

Holy and abiding God,
In this sacred moment, we turn our attention to You.
Still the noise around us and within us,
That we might hear Your gentle whisper of grace.
Open our eyes to Your light,
Our hearts to Your love,
And our souls to the peace that only You can give.
Meet us here, O Lord, as we offer ourselves fully to Your presence,
Trusting in Your steadfast care and boundless mercy.
With gratitude and hope, we are here—present with You. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Judges 4:4-9

HYMN FOR REFLECTION:
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdp--Mv9pS0v

Captain of Israel's host, and Guide
Charles Wesley, 1707–1788

  1. Captain of Israel’s host and guide
    of all who seek the land above,
    beneath thy shadow we abide,
    the cloud of thy protecting love;
    our strength, thy grace; our rule, thy word;
    our end, the glory of the Lord.
  2. By thine unerring Spirit led,
    we shall not in the desert stray;
    we shall not full direction need,
    nor miss our providential way;
    as far from danger as from fear
    while love, almighty love, is near.

REFLECTION:

Have you ever noticed how often the Bible presents unlikely individuals as the heroes of its greatest stories? Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Judah, Moses, Ruth, Rahab, Esther, Samuel, David, Solomon, the prophets, and even the apostles—all carried flaws, faced challenges, or bore characteristics that didn’t fit the mold of traditional leadership in their time. They weren’t what people would expect of godly leaders, and yet God called them to do extraordinary things.

The story of Deborah fits perfectly into this pattern. Deborah is remarkable for many reasons. She stands out not only because of her achievements but also because of the cultural and societal barriers she overcame. In an era when women were often overlooked or uncounted, Deborah emerges as a prophet—a role predominantly held by men. She is the only woman judge mentioned in the Bible, and she becomes a military leader in a time when women commanding armies was unheard of.

There are times in our lives and in our world when we get stuck believing that only certain people are capable, willing, or deserving of leadership. But Deborah’s story reminds us that what matters most is not our outward qualifications or what society expects, but our willingness to trust in God’s call and purpose. God often chooses the unexpected, the unlikely, and the underestimated to accomplish divine purposes. Deborah’s leadership inspires us to trust in God’s ability to work through anyone, regardless of societal norms or personal limitations.

As you may have noticed, I have a partiality towards Charles Wesley hymns. The hymn of choice today, “Captain of Israel’s Host, and Guide” connects beautifully with out text. It points us toward the One who leads us with grace and unfailing love, providing strength and guidance no matter how daunting the task. Like Deborah, when we rely on God’s grace and Spirit, we find ourselves equipped for challenges we never imagined we could face.

Deborah’s story invites us to examine our own assumptions about leadership and to recognize that God’s call often defies human expectations. It also challenges us to reflect on how we, like Deborah, might be called to step into roles we never thought possible—not because we are perfect, but because God’s power is perfected in our weakness.

So today, may we embrace the courage of Deborah and the guidance of our Captain, trusting that God’s love will lead us as far from danger as from fear.

CLOSING PRAYER:

I am not attempting, O Lord, to penetrate your loftiness,
for I cannot begin to match my understanding with it,
but I desire in some measure to understand your truth,
which my heart believes and loves.
For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe,
but I believe in order to understand.
For this too I believe,
that “unless I believe, I shall not understand.” (Isaiah 7:9)

—Anselm of Canterbury (1034–1109)

WEEKLY PRACTICE: Jan 12 - 17 (Sun - Sat)

Praise: Celebrations of God’s Presence in Prayer

What was begun anew at Christmas with the birth of Christ stays with us in this new year. With God’s presence and guidance we have much to celebrate and be thankful. So, take a moment to actively lift up in your prayers the God we love and adore just as we did when celebrating his birth at Christmas. In fact, consider the celebratory nature of the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the awe and wonder of God at work in creation. God truly provides all we need in body, heart, and mind with a greatness that far exceeds anything we can imagine. 

Glory to God in the highest! May we all see God’s handywork and lift words of praise. Amen.