Have you ever found yourself questioning the Lord? Maybe thinking He made a mistake? That you’re not qualified or able? Maybe you have asked God, “If you are really for me, then why is all this stuff happening to me”? Why am I not seeing the blessing? Why am I even here? I have given my life to you, so why do I feel like I am being punished and abandoned? If you have had any of the above thoughts, you are not alone! Gideon had all the above and more. He had doubts and fears. He even thought God was against him. “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, O my lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where are 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.” Judges 6:12-13
The angel of the Lord proceeded to tell Gideon that he was going to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon had a complex. He thought very low of himself and could not believe that God could use him to do anything, especially save Israel. He was looking at his poverty and his weaknesses. “But God”. There is always a, “but God”, in a miracle and testimony. God used Gideon to overthrow the Midianites and lead the nation of Israel for forty years.“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, O 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” Judges 6:15-16
Maybe you are fighting the Gideon complex. Feeling like you don’t measure up, or that you are not able to conquer that which the Lord has spoken to your heart. Remember, Gideon didn’t believe either. He had to get a sign to confirm what the angel was saying to him.“And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.” (Judges 6:17) Even if you are battling with unbelief, God will send you a sign if you ask him. He will confirm that which He has spoken. God confirmed to Gideon that the angel was from the Lord and that it was the Lord’s word to him and he began to act on it.
If you want to rise up and be everything God has called you to be, you must FIRST realize that it is not of yourself! You must get your mind off of you and focus on the Word of God. Gideon’s problem was he couldn’t get his eyes off of himself. Until you stop looking at you and begin to look at what GOD SAID, you will not move forward. As soon as GIdeon received the Word of the Lord and believed it, he acted on all the Lord told him to do and he smote the Midianites and saved Israel.
What has the Lord spoken to you? Are you ready to stop looking at yourself, and begin to look at what the LORD is saying and believe it? Let go of the Gideon complex and pick up the shield of faith. Believe the Word of God and Conquer! “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Father, we ask you in the name of Jesus to reveal your perfect plan to us and give us the strength, courage and faith to move forward into all that you have called us to become and do. In Jesus name, Amen. So be it!
Until next time,,,,
Remember,
Stay Calm and Be Empowered
