Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Romans 8:37
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Often times our greatest obstacle is staring at us… in the mirror. Before we can be victorious, we have to ‘see’ ourselves as victorious, don’t we. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Personally, I don’t want to talk about it (smile). Without going into a lot of detail, suffice it to say that my first glimpse of me in the morning is not a good look. But, a shower, a shave, a few minutes of ‘sprucing up’ and “ OK, I can do this” Right?
Beloved, we all need a ‘Word’ from the Lord: a little bit of prodding and encouragement in the way that he would have us to go. When God chose Gideon, he chose from among the least of the least of Israel. And in Gideon’s case, he thought exactly that about himself. “Why me, God?” Don’t those words echo in your own ears? They did in Gideon’s. And because of this, God had to gently convince Gideon that he had indeed chosen him to be Israel’s deliverer. Gently, carefully, repeatedly, God confirmed His call to Gideon, such that when Gideon finally trusted God fully, he routed Israel’s tormentors completely and convincingly. But first he had to win the battle between his ears. He had to overcome his doubts: his past failings, his present shortcomings and the bleak outlook that was his future. Before God revealed himself to Gideon, Gideon completely ‘owned’ his condition. Completely. He was what he thought he was. God had to patiently, lovingly overcome… Gideon.
In your private time, read Gideon’s entire story in Judges: chapters six through eight. You’ find in Gideon, a man who over a short period of time, God took from the lowly position of a thresher of wheat to a mighty warrior who led Israel in several victorious campaigns. For him, complete obedience wasn’t instant, but God gently persisted, until He produced in Gideon a man who could and would follow Him… confidently. When Gideon, finally submitted himself completely to God’s way of thinking, he found the ability to completely over come. When he ‘knew’ that God was with him, he understood that God with Him was more than his enemies against him.
The same is true for us as believers. We need convincing. Convincing that we too can do great things with God’s help. And so God gently, lovingly, caringly and carefully speaks to us through His Word and by His Spirit. He reminds us of the victory he gave us at the cross. He instructs us on the privileges that Christ’s victory affords us, then He leads us, guides us into the conflict around us equipped with the knowledge the we are more than conquerors because we are so completely loved by Him. We come to know that: He loved us while we were yet sinners, He loves us fiercely, even when we seem most unlovable and, going forward, His love will never fail us. Whatever your station or your situation, Beloved, know that God loves you. Rest in that knowledge and you will overcome.
Shalom,
.wb
1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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