The end of Gideon’s heroic life is one of the sadder stories in the Bible.

You see, Gideon had led Israel in battle against their oppressors and had restored order and prosperity to the nation. They wanted to elect him as ruler over their country, but Gideon, knowing where his victories came from, declined:

He told Israel that God would be their leader, not him.

I love Gideon’s heart here. But then something shifted: Gideon asked them men to offer up their golden earrings as payment for Gideon’s conquest. So Gideon comes off with this large haul of gold, melts it down, and makes an ephod with it.

Who cares, you might ask?

Gideon, Fighting for What's GoodNathan WestwickApril 24, 2024Blessings, Career, TemptationComment

Book Release Announcement!!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I am thrilled beyond belief to announce that my book, Clearing the Path: Connecting with God in a Cluttered World is now available on Amazon! (Kindle, paperback, hardcover options available, with a special thank-you to Pastor Matt Brown for writing the foreword!)

This book aims to help you connect with God on a deeper level, experiencing being known, seen, and loved by Him, and enjoying the personal transformation that comes as a result. Please share this post with anyone who you think would enjoy this read!

To grab your copy, simply click here!

Fighting for What's Good, FaithNathan WestwickAugust 16, 2023Clearing the Path, Faith, Gratitude, How God Sees Us, Identity, Joy, BookComment

Celebrating Victory

The victory of Jesus and his resurrection is the most important victory in human history. If that's the case, why didn't Jesus throw himself a victory parade right there on the spot? Read on to see what he did instead...

When You Can’t Seem to Get a Break

What do we do when hardship seems to come at us from all sides? Why doesn’t God fix it? How do we find peace when we feel stuck? Read about my personal experiences with these questions here…

Faith, Fighting for What's Good, The JourneyNathan WestwickNovember 8, 2021Fighting On, Faith, Hardship, Finding Joy, LossComment

Facing Each Day Anew

It’s been one of those stretches where things have just been… heavy.

You know, when you feel like you’re rolling a big boulder uphill in every aspect of your life. Over the past few weeks, I’ve just had one of those stretches where it seems like everything takes considerable effort, and despite that effort, everything still goes backwards. Pair that with the physical exhaustion that invariably accompanies seasons of stress, and you’ve got a compound effect that can feel more than a bit overwhelming.

Where Do You Go for Peace? (Part 2)

There is a vacation home in the back woods of southern Utah where my family and I have gone nearly every January for the past 8 years.

We found it at a time when our lives were in major transition and upheaval. As we drove up to the house for the first time, we were all amazed at how incredible the place was. A large mountain home on 5 acres, this place became our sanctum after the busyness of the holidays.

And last week, we found out that the house sold and is no longer listed as a vacation rental.

Why Now is NOT the Time to Play it Safe

I’ve been chewing on this since March of 2020…

Clearly, I don’t need to go into any details about the recent span of human history we’re living in, so let’s hop right in, shall we?

In a world where everything is about safety, about protection, about playing the odds and having them fall in our favor, I believe now, more than ever, is the time to throw caution to the wind and stop playing it safe.

For Joy's Sake

This morning I decided to hop on my bike for a ride. Now, let me first say that it was raining most of last night, and it was dreadfully cold outside (albeit dry) when I woke up. 36 degrees, to be specific.

A big part of me didn’t want to ride, but at the same time, I woke up with a peculiar energy to just get out, get some variety, and go for a good old-fashioned bike ride.

Now, for some quick context:

This was, I believe, the 3rd “real ride” I’ve taken since October 3rd, 2019. That was the day I ruptured my Achilles…

Against the Rock

In my last post, I proposed a challenge that essentially suggested we pay less attention to the news (man-made stories) and instead spent a bit more time focusing on the rhythms of nature (God-made stories).

How’d that go for you? Did you manage to make it the entire week? (It’s not too late to take the challenge, by the way; there’s no “late penalty” for this one…)

I know for me personally, I was able to greatly reduce my news intake on a daily basis, and instead spent a little more time connecting with God through prayer, Bible time, and just being outside.

The Journey of Healing

I hopped on my road bike yesterday for the first time in about a year.

The last time I rode it was shortly before I ruptured my Achilles – an injury that is nearly a year in the recovery process, and still not where I would like it to be.

Now, full disclosure, the picture shown above was taken during my glory days on that bike. She and I (the bike, that is) would travel all over the local roads together, climbing mountains, enjoying views, speeding down descents. That bike and I have enjoyed thousands and thousands of miles of blissful togetherness.

And then, with one loud snap of the Achilles, it all came to a screeching halt.

nathanwestwick.com