Words of Encouragement

The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "But Lord , [a] " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."  - Judges 6:11-18

You Want Me? Gideon: I Am Weak! Gideon was simply minding his business when he had an unsual visit. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and greeted him in a strange way.  He called him "mighty warrior". 
 
Gideon was unsure of this greeting. His first response was, God if you are with us, why has all this happened to us?  Why have you deserted us and left us in the hand of our enemies?  God then answers his and says, I am sending you, go and do it. 
 
Gideon's response is, but I am of the weakest, why send me?  When I read this do you know what hit me?  God often calls those that feel they are not able, to do things he will enable them to do.  Moses, said I cannot speak, but God sent him to speak.  Jeremiah said I am too young I have not power and ability, yet God sent him to tell kings and priest and gave him power and ability. Isaiah thought he was too unclean, yet God cleaned him up and made him worthy. Gideon thinks he is too weak, yet the greeting from God is mighty warrior.
 
The beauty is God changes us from what we are, to what he wants us to be.  I was afraid to speak, but God took away the fear and gave me the courage and strength to speak. I too felt like Gideon, surely I am the weakest, why send me?  I have no power and ability, surely like Moses, don't you want to send someone else?  Yet God said, no, I have called you for such a time as this.  I have called you, I have anointed you, I have appointed you and you will speak my words with power and authority.
 
Today I pray for us.  Oh mighty warriors of God.  You have been chosen for a time as this.  It does not matter what shortcomings you feel are in you, God's power is bigger than that and he can make you into the vessel of honor he so chooses.  He has take us (that were unworthy) and made us worthy.