Do Not Be Intimidated By Your Limitations

Judges 6:11-16

11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “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!”

16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

New Living Translation (NLT)

There is no one reading this message who knows how many more years he or she is going to live here on earth if Christ tarries. I want you to hear this: Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Regardless of what your past looks like or what you have been through, whatever are the restrictions, constraints and controls you have today, do not allow them to overwhelm you. You are a mighty person in the making, a miracle in progress and nothing about your past life can stop the divine destiny God has put together for you.

God created you. He knows you. He knows what you have been through and where you will arrive. He is not done with you yet. You might have gone through rough times and made wrong decisions. There may be challenges staring you in the face today, but I’ve got something to tell you beloved. ‘You have a future!’.

Don’t be intimidated by your limitations.

The story of Gideon is that of a man who was intimidated by his limitations. In his own eyes, Gideon was an unlikely hero. He was going about his business when an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him – “You are a chosen one, the one that will defeat the Midianites. You are the man of the moment and the GREAT ONE is by your side”. Gideon’s reaction was negative. He mentally scrutinized his background, capabilities and limitations and replied – ‘No way Angel! Try another person!’ Gideon was being intimidated by his limitations. He began to blame and question God.

Many people do the same today. When surrounded by tough situations, they start to question God – “Why me?”. Many questions and negative comments arise – “If God loves me why did this happen to me?”. “God is not fair” etc. They allow themselves to be intimidated by their limitations.

Gideon even spoke of his family – ‘My family is poor’. ‘I am the least in my father’s house’. Just like many people, Gideon did not realize that God is not looking for a perfect vessel but a willing one. For He says: “…not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 He says: “…my strength is made perfect in weakness”. What vision has God given you? What are your dreams? Are they from God? When God gives a vision or dream, he makes provision for their fulfillment. God makes visions and dreams from Him to be so big that without Him, they cannot be fulfilled. But He is always there to bring them to pass.

Don’t be intimidated by your limitations!

God already knows your limitations and they don’t intimidate Him. However, God does not overlook the obvious but He does something with them to get you where you need to be in His divine plan.

Gideon could not comprehend how in his wildest dreams he was going to fight and defeat these mean Midianites that have been terrorizing the people of Israel. He did not see himself as a mighty man of valor, but God sees him so. You may not be able to see yourself the way you are before God but He sees you exactly the way you were made to be. God knows whom you are. He knows your frame. He made you and He loves you too. Therefore don’t allow your limitations to intimidate you because God is on your side. When the Lord met Moses, He had an assignment for him. Heaven had concluded arrangements to work with Moses to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage. Moses was full of complaints. He was intimidated by his limitations.

Exodus 3:11, Moses said “…who am I…”. In verse 13 he asked God what name he would tell his people regarding who had sent him. Despite the answers, miracles and assurance God gave Moses, he still focused on his limitations. “…they will not believe me…” (Exodus 4:1) “…I am not eloquent,…I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10). Irrespective of all these visible limitations, God had put together great plans to grant the Israelites victory through Moses. Friend, don’t be intimidated by your limitations. God is capable of turning any situation around to suit His purposes. I would like you to think about these: * Some of the greatest songs were written in dark hours of grief, pain and anguish. * Most powerful books were written when the authors faced desperate times. * Many times, it is while we are down in the pit that we look up and behold the face of God.

God loves you. You can have those dreams and visions come through because God is your Father. He is the Healer, the Shepherd, Provider, Deliverer and the Ancient of Days!

Do you want to surrender to Jesus and make Him the Lord and Saviour of your life? Then pray the Salvation Prayer and start a New Life in Christ.

About the Author

Until the Lord told him that he would pastor a Church in Texas, Dr. Val Egbudiwe was an international Missionary/Revival Evangelist. Dr. Val Egbudiwe was called by God with a unique mandate and anointing to deliver God's people from the bondage of sin, satan and poverty. God's presence is always manifested as God confirms His Word with signs and wonders when he preaches the Word.

He is a published author and an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. With a great insight into spiritual warfare, he also operates in the miraculous as his ministry is always accompanied with demonstration of the power of the Holy Ghost to save, heal and set the captives free. He is currently the Pastor of Chapel of Revival and Miracles, Mesquite, Texas, USA, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, North America. He is the author of 'The Midnight Gate - How to Open Heaven's Door and Bring Desired Results to Your Prayers'.

Via Faith Writers

God bless you.