The other evening my son, Tyler, reminded me of the story of Gideon. As he shared the experience of this unlikeliest Old Testament hero, God's Spirit began to convict my own heart of an unexpected biblical principle.

Our family has struggled with the rising costs of gasoline, healthcare, education, and other necessities, as I'm sure your family has. We've faced a number of unexpected and costly repairs to the furnace, our septic system, and a couple of vehicles. At a time when we need extra cash the most, we have less.

Which brings us to the biblical principle found in the story of Gideon. My son was quick to recognize it: “God reduced Gideon’s army so they would not feel self-sufficient and take credit for the victory.”

I recalled the wisdom recently expressed by my wife Maryann: “I think God wants us to be more dependent on Him so there is no question that He is the One who provides for all our needs.”

Total dependence on God, along with a spirit of self-denial and self-sacrifice, combine to create a perfect partnership—a dependent partnership. The kind of partnership that protects us from the temptation of presuming for ourselves what can only be attributed to God. A partnership that becomes a living testimony to His power and grace.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Herald editor.