Unlikely Warriors

Unlikely Warriors

The Best Nap Ever

 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Judges 6:12 NIV

Have you ever had times in your life when you’ve just felt stagnant? You knew where your life was headed but then it seemed to stall out a little or take you in a different direction that you didn’t necessarily want to go. Me, too. The truth is that we all get tired and lose our way.

I just happened to be reading through the book of Judges the other day and I came across the story of Gideon in chapter 6. The Israelites had been invaded by the Midianites and were totally oppressed by them. In the midst of all that was a guy named Gideon who was threshing wheat in a winepress. Normally he would’ve threshed his wheat out in the open so the wind could separate the chaff from the grain. Winepresses in Old Testament times were tall stone basins, designed to drain off the wine as one trampled it underfoot. But Gideon was afraid of the Midianites and was hiding in the winepress.

While Gideon was hiding out, an angel appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” I mean, you gotta love angels who deal in irony. Mighty warrior? Gideon was hiding! He was threshing his wheat in fear, and yet the angel called him a mighty warrior.

The angel had come to tell Gideon that God was going to use him to deliver the Israelites from Midian. At first Gideon didn’t believe it. In fact, he asked God for a sign two different times to make sure he’d heard God right. Ultimately, Gideon ended up being exactly what the angel called him . . . a mighty warrior. He defeated the Midianites using only three hundred men. Do you see what God did there? He called Gideon to something he never could have imagined for himself. That’s what God does.

God sees what we can’t see. He sees something where there’s nothing. Even though I’ve read the story of Gideon and had that revelation before, I saw it with fresh eyes the other day. I needed a reminder that God sees something in me that I don’t see in myself. I see all my insecurities and worries and just general yuck, but He looks at me and sees something entirely different. He sees something He can use for His plans and purposes.

But here’s the kicker . . . God sees you the same way! You may not know what that looks like right now, but God does. I’m sure this has been a tough year for some of you. Maybe God is changing your heart about some things and keeping your heart hoping for others. Maybe you’re still looking for answers but at the same time realizing that knowing all the answers doesn’t require much faith.

All that to say this . . . Listen for God’s voice and try to see more of what He sees in you. God looks at the part of you where you see nothing and He sees a mighty warrior. Don’t give up, Mighty Warrior! Get out of your winepress and let God reveal the potential He sees in you!

Thanks for reading Pastor Dale’s Mid-Week Encouragement.  It’s not copyrighted so feel free to share it with someone who needs encouraged today. And, if you’re a regular attender of the Mt. Laurel Church of God, please consider reading Matthew 3:1-12 to get yourself ready to hear God’s message through Pastor Dale this coming Sunday, December 7, the second Sunday in the season of Advent!

Called to know the Way, go the Way, and show you the Way,

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.