Tag Archives: mighty warrior

Fighting Fear

Fear is one of our greatest enemies. It distorts the truth about who we are. It can make us feel less than who we are. It can also cause us to doubt our own strength and capabilities. Fear will also interject itself into how we see God and our relationship with Him. It causes doubt, gets us to question God’s plan and blinds us to our identity in Him. Ultimately it keeps from reaching our potential and achieving all God created us to do. We must not let it gain a foothold in our lives. It’s lies spread and hold us back. Thankfully perfect love casts out all fear.

In Judges 6, we meet Gideon, and immediately we can see how fear is driving his decisions and has distorted his view of God, as well as his own identity. He is threshing grain in a wine press so he isn’t seen by his enemies. When the Angel of the Lord show up, He spoke to Gideon’s identity by calling him a mighty warrior and reminding him that God is with him. The fear in Gideon questioned God plan in their current situation. The angel spoke to his identity again and told him he was being sent to deliver Israel. When Gideon questioned it again, the angel said, “I will be with you” (NLT). The Lord continued to be patient with Gideon as he transformed him into the warrior God created him to be.

In Isaiah 43:1 the Lord says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” God knows that we all face fear in one way or another. His truth will drive out fear from your life and will help you see your true identity in Him. You have been called by name and belong to Him. He will not abandon you in your time of trouble. He sees your potential and calls it out the same way He did to Gideon. You may not see it in yourself right now, but listen to the voice of truth over the voice of fear. The goal of fear is to bring insecurity in every area of your life, but God’s love brings confidence, freedom and victory. It’s a process to let go of fear, but God is patient and will walk with every step of the way as you fight fear.

Photo by Bruno do Val on Unsplash

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Equipped And Ready

Gideon is one of those stories in the Bible that I go back to over and over again. He was scared of his enemies, so he was hiding when the angel appeared to him. The angel then greets him with, “Mighty Hero! The Lord is with you” (NLT). I’m sure Gideon had a confused look on his face and then looked around for the hero. He then asked a great question any of us would have asked. If the Lord is with me, why are things so bad? He didn’t get an answer though. Instead, the angel calls on him to save Israel from the very enemy he’s hiding from.

In Judges 6:14 the angel of the Lord said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” I love this response because it is a great picture of who God is. He calls us to do things in our own strength and giftings. When we see ourselves in the mirror, we think who we are and what we have is not enough. God sees beyond our fears and insecurities though. He sees who we can become if we would trust that He’s with us and will pick up the slack for the things we lack if we will simply step out with what we have already been given.

I believe every one of us are called to do something. There is a purpose and a plan that God has for each of our lives. It’s up to us to trust Him to be with us, and to walk in that calling. It’s time for us to quit looking at ourselves with these human eyes so we can trust what God sees in us with His eyes. It’s in our weaknesses and inabilities that His strength is made perfect. He only asks that we trust Him enough to do the things He called us to. If God has confidence in you, I think it’s time you had it too. Through Jesus, you are more than a conqueror. You are a mighty, valiant hero ready and equipped to do what He called you to.

Photo by Nathan Trampe on Unsplash

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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