14/11/23
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD
Today’s Scripture
The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, valiant warrior.”
Judges 6:12, NASB
VALIANT WARRIOR
A man named Gideon was hiding in the winepress, afraid of his enemies, when the angel called him the valiant warrior who was to deliver the people of Israel from the Midianites. Although Gideon felt overwhelmed, weak, and intimidated, the angel was saying, in effect, “Gideon, you are stronger than you think. You’re letting this situation convince you that it’s too much to handle, but you have what it takes. You’re courageous, you’re talented, you’re favored, and you’re well able.” Gideon was only seeing the opposition that looked insurmountable. The angel showed up to remind him of what was in him, and that is what he became.
God won’t let you get in a situation that feels overwhelming if He hasn’t already equipped you for it. The fact that you’re in it means you can handle it. You are stronger than you think. You are more powerful than you think. The Most High God is breathing on your life. He’s saying to you today, “Valiant warrior, rise up. Valiant warrior, stand strong. Valiant warrior, you are well able.”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You know me and what I am capable of becoming. Thank You that You have equipped and empowered me to be strong where I feel weak and less-than. I believe that You are transforming me into a mighty warrior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
My dear friend, do you have a revelation of God’s personal love for you today? His love has to be experienced in your heart.
Head knowledge—just knowing intellectually that God loves you because He loves everyone—isn’t going to cut it. It is when you really encounter the person of Jesus and His grace, and really know in your heart that He loves you, that positive and profound changes begin to happen in your life.
Is there a scriptural basis for saying this? Yes, there is. The Bible tells us clearly, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). The word for “knowledge” here is the Greek epignosis, which refers to a heart experience of what and Who God is, rather than mere intellectual knowledge of facts about Him.
It is a knowledge that is gained through an intimate and personal relationship with God. In other words, when you hear and hear until you know in your heart that the Lord loves you and is for you, you will experience His unmerited favor and supernatural peace in the area of your challenges. That is when you will find His strength, wisdom, and supply multiplied tangibly in your life.
Do you remember Gideon, who saw himself as least in his family and who was threshing wheat in a winepress for fear of being seen by the Midianites?
We read his story in the book of Judges and see how he overcame his insecurities and fears and singlehandedly saved Israel from the Midianites, because he first heard gracious, encouraging words from the Angel of the LORD: “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor! . . . Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judg. 6:12, 16). When he began to see how the Lord saw him, and believed that the Lord was with him and for him, he fulfilled his destiny!
If, like Gideon, you feel small and powerless in the face of your challenges, I encourage you to keep hearing how, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and finished work, nothing can separate you from God’s love. I want you to know right now that He has already made you more than a conqueror in Christ (Rom. 8:37–39).
When you know who you are in Christ and believe in God’s love for you, you will become strong and you will see God do great things in and through you. When you know that God is with you and for you, who or what can stand against you (Rom. 8:31)? You will surely win the fights of life and live the amazing destiny God has prepared for you!
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