Daily Devotion Thoughtful Thursday | February 12, 2026

It’s Thursday, and time for your daily devotion. In Judges 6, the Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, who had overrun their land and impoverished it. They needed a man willing to take on God’s divine assignment. However, God’s call is met with resistance. In today’s daily devotion, know that when God calls you, you’re right for the job.

The Angel of the Lord

With Israel’s enemies encamped against them on every side like “grasshoppers for multitude,” they cried to the Lord in desperation. The Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon as he’s threshing wheat while hiding from the Midianites. In verse 13, He proclaims, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

Startled and confused, Gideon doesn’t see himself as mighty or valiant. After all, he’s hiding from his enemies. Gideon asks why such calamities have befallen Israel, and where is the God of miracles who delivered their forefathers from Egypt? He feels forsaken by God and disbelieves the Lord is with Israel. In your daily devotion, determine that even in an environment of doubt and unbelief, you’ll hold on to the truth that God is with you.

Receiving a Sign

The Lord speaks, without addressing Gideon’s complaints. He commands, “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.” Gideon responds by doubting he can save Israel because his family is poor and he’s considered the least in his father’s household. 

However, the Lord declares, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” Gideon, unconvinced,  desires a sign, so he requests that the Lord remain there until he brings back an offering. When he places his offering on a rock, the Angel’s staff touches it, consuming it with fire, and then disappears. In today’s daily devotion, trust without seeking signs. In Mark 8:12, Jesus rejects the Pharisees who seek a sign rather than believe God’s word.

Building an Altar

Gideon is now afraid he’ll die because he’s seen the Lord; however, the Lord assures him he won’t. That night, the Lord instructs Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal and build an altar to God in its place and offer sacrifices. Gideon obeys but waits until nighttime, taking ten men with him.

The next morning, the men of the city arrive to kill him for tearing down Baal’s altar. But Joash, Gideon’s father, deters them by insisting Baal defend himself if he’s a god. In this daily devotion, notice that Gideon was fearful, yet he obeyed. In your daily devotion, don’t let fear stop you from obeying God. 

Forming an Army

Gideon sends messages throughout the land to stir up an army. But he wants a confirmation from the Lord that He will use him to defeat the Midianites. He asks that a fleece he puts on the ground be wet with dew the next morning, while the ground remains dry. When that happens, he asks that the next morning, the ground have dew, but the fleece be dry. It occurs.

Now Gideon is ready for action. You don’t need to ask God for a sign or proof that He will do what He says. All you need is faith and a willingness to obey Him.

Trusting God’s Word

In Thursday’s daily devotion, note that the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament is the pre-incarnate Christ, appearing to mobilize Gideon, who goes on to defeat an army of over 130,000 with 300 men. When you say yes to God’s plan and obey His assignment, like Gideon, you too become Christ’s mighty and valiant warrior.