March 20, 2015
The Lord looked at (Gideon) and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.” (Judges 6:14-16)
Every man who has been called by God always senses his inadequacy to do the task. Gideon was no exception. He was from the smallest and most humble tribe in Israel. He was just a common man who did not expect the unusual call upon his life to be a leader/judge of Israel.
And yet the Lord called him. Gideon's immediate response was to remind the Lord that he had no strength to do what was required.
God answered him with the answer that He has given every called leader from Abraham onward. And this is the ultimate game-changer in leadership:
""Surely I will be with you.”
That's the answer to fear. That's the antidote for our inadequacy. That’s the remedy for our weakness. That is the singular essence that makes us different and more powerful than our adversaries…the presence of God.
Without God’s presence we have no capability to lead nor defeat our enemies. With God we have all we need and beyond. No one can stand before the One who made us (and them) and holds heaven and earth in His hands.
Has God called you? If so, don’t judge your leadership ability by your own gifts alone. This will lead to leadership-killing pride and/or debilitating inadequacy.
God knows you have what is needed from the human-gifting side to do what is required or He would not have chosen you for the task. But He also knows you do not have enough to do the job alone.
Look to Him for the needed enabling and move forward with faith in His strength. His presence is enough.
February 20, 2025
If you have questions about how real, how present, how personal and intimate the Lord is, then just read six words of travelogue in Luke’s journal as he traveled with Paul.
February 18, 2025
I have known many people who have had great joy and power in the midst of great suffering. It is humbling that the slightest inconveniences deter many of us from following God. We have not gotten to the bottom—settled the issue. Most often, we live for our comfort, reputation, or gain. When any of those goals are touched, we are troubled and discontent.
February 17, 2025
The repentant who finds God gains everything. “He who has God and everything else,” said C.S. Lewis, “has no more than he who has God alone.”
