Strong, Powerful & Courageous

What do you identify with? Most people's identity is based on their level of self-esteem. They may see themselves as fearful, weak, an outcast...etc...Insecurities can have a large role in how humans perceive themselves.

As you read the story of Gideon, here's a man who identified with fear and weakness, yet that is not who God created him to be. When the Lord looked at him, he saw a humble and yielded vessel that by His power at work within him, he could accomplish great feats for His Kingdom. Though Gideon's perception of himself was limited to what he had experienced and what he knew, God's view was limitless. There were no boundaries set for him. Nothing was impossible! What could never be achieved by human strength was miraculously accomplished through faith and obedience!

Gideon was unlike many of us. He questioned his ability to hear God, he was afraid of missing His will. He had many questions and insecurities but once he knew that He was for Him, by His strength he boldly became the Mighty Man of Valor he was created and called to be!

The plans God has for your life are not based on your strengths or limitations...they are based on your yieldedness to His will and faith in His Word. Every decision made for His Kingdom's sake must be done out of knowledge of His Word, faith in Him and a realization of the power and authority we've been given!

Don't search for the accolades of man but serve Him however you can and never allow the enemy to intimidate you into thinking you're anything less than a powerful Child of the Living God!! Just as Gideon destroyed an army of thousands with few, you have been equipped to destroy all the work of the enemy in both your life and that of others! Just keep moving forward, closer and closer to Jesus, trusting Him every step of the way and by faith and knowledge of God's Word, you too will identify with who He says you are! You are strong, powerful and courageous!!! You are equipped to accomplish everything He's called you to do!

Luke 10:19 (KJV) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Judges 6:11-16 (KJV) And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (KJV) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.