Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

In Part One of this two-part post, I began to write about the power to do what we want to or know we should, or lack of it in our lives depending on how we think and what we believe.

Jesus died for our sins, washed them away, and filled us with His Holy Spirit so that we could begin to see life and God’s will through His eyes. One of the things God wanted us to see and know was that we weren’t created to be wimps, but to be mighty in Spirit that would lead us to be mighty in life! And that is not because of us but because of the Holy Spirit living within us! His word tells us that it is the same Spirit (Holy Spirit) that raised Christ from the dead that lives in us and strengthens us. Romans 8:11 (NLT) “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

We see this play out in the story of Gideon. He and his people were surrounded constantly by enemies oppressing them. Gideon believed in a lie that had rooted in him over his lifetime. He believed he was a loser. He believed his people were losers. He was a man who lived day by day in fear and hiding, which rendered him helpless and put him in survival mode. He never tried to change anything. He only tried to exist and survive. Too many people live like that and that is not God’s plan for anyone’s life!

One day Gideon was working in his wine press which was also his hideout, when suddenly the Lord appeared to Gideon saying, “With the strength that you have, go and rescue Israel from the Midianites.” (Judges 6:14 NLT) Gideon couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He felt that his life represented being fearful and timid! He felt like a wimp, and he let the Lord know it, saying, “But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” (Judges 6:15) Gideon was basically telling the Lord that he came from a tribe of losers and a family of losers and he was the biggest loser! That was how he saw himself. Worse than that, he believed it and had faith in it as though it were the truth. But this is an example of how God’s Word breaks the back of Satan’s lies, accusations, and deception. Gideon began to believe what the Lord had said. The Lord was changing his perspective with the truth! God called him “a mighty man of valor.” Then God told him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” (Judges 6:16)  

When God begins to help us understand who He created us to be, it can take time to believe it. It took a while for this to sink in for Gideon, but God was gracious in helping Him believe it. Once Gideon did, he was no longer the same person. He resisted allowing himself to think he was the fearful loser. He kept in mind what God said he was—a mighty man of valor. Soon Gideon, with the help of the Lord, defeated the Midianites and became one of the great warriors and Judges of Israel.

You may hold a high opinion of yourself out of pride and conceit. That’s as wrong of a  perception as thinking you’re a wimp! It’s not the truth. One day that pride will be broken. Whether you are prideful or you have little self-esteem and see yourself as a loser, both are wrong perceptions. Our life will either be a life built on ignorance and false perceptions, or we will let God reveal who we were created to be through Christ Jesus and in the strength of the Holy Spirit. Once Gideon believed what God said about him, all lies and superstitions in his life were overcome by his faith in God’s truth. He became the new man of strength and purpose that God created him to be—a mighty man of valor.

No matter how you feel, cast aside all negative feelings and perceptions of yourself and instead thank God for His promise in, Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

We can wake up every day thinking and saying to the Lord, “Like Gideon, I am mighty in you. I have the Holy Spirit who raised you from the dead, living within me! I am here to be strong and shine for you. I have the strength and might of your Holy Spirit within me to do what you ask me to do. Even down to the smallest choices! I am here to be excellent in all I do, leaning on you, Lord for your help and the strength of the Holy Spirit within me in everything. I will have a great day. I will, Lord because I can do everything you lead me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need!”  

This is God’s truth and your truth to be formed in you to live by! This is the place to draw God’s strength from. This is His truth for you! This is your truth from Him! So, when you’re feeling wimpy, shout back, No! I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! 

Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV) “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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