God wants YOU to succeed! Be blessed by this word and "Go in the strength you have." (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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I hear the Lion of Judah, roaring over His people. He is awakening courage. He is stirring up expectation. He is coming to you with a new word. Hear your Father say, "Beloved, I am giving you new strength!"
"It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect." (Psalm 18:32 NKJV)
Counting on God
Your new strength is not like your old strength. Don't expect the familiarity of past strength. Don't wait for your "old strength" to return. Your new strength is different. For you have entered a new era. Your new strength is victorious.
The enemy sought to push you and, for a time, may have dented your heart. He may have used intimidation, shame, or illness which tried to take you out. Perhaps he manifested as the evil that sought to rob your family...whatever ways the enemy has attacked you, know this: Your enemy is on the run, because God has armed you with new strength.
"For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me." (Psalm 18:39 NKJV)
Your new strength is found in reliance. Maybe you are in a position where past supports—people or structures—have come and gone. Now, you are more conscious than ever of your reliance upon God. You are counting on Him. Your newfound strength is a position; you are leaning upon God.
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?" (Song of Songs 8:5a NIV)
Your new strength looks forward. Don't look for the past to return. Look for what lies ahead to come into view. Hear the sound of a new song. It is Heaven singing over you. You may be emerging out of a time of mourning. Know that you are not lesser for that season—you are stronger for it.
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy..." (Psalm 30:11 NIV)
"Go in the Strength You Have"
Confronting the man in his place of hiding, the Lord told Gideon, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14). At this, Gideon answered the Lord by reminding Him of his position and family history: "'Pardon me, my Lord,' Gideon replied, 'but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family'" (Judges 6:15).
Listen! When God is prophesying your destiny, don't rehearse your history. Your history has no weight or bearing on the fulfillment of God's Word in your life. What matters is that God is sending you, He will be with you, and He will deliver you.
"The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.'" (Judges 6:16)
Perhaps you can relate to Gideon today. Perhaps you don't feel adequate for the task ahead of you, but be encouraged: Your weakness does not disqualify you. God's Word qualifies you. And He says, "Go in the strength you have."
Experience Did Not Prepare Her
It was an earlier generation. Deborah was a prophet, a judge and leader of Israel (Judges 4). She held court under "the Palm of Deborah." Day after day Deborah sat, listening to complaints, giving wise judgments and delivering the word of the Lord. Her location never changed; her life was predictable. But then one day, God gave Deborah a word of command to give to Barak. It was time to take up arms and defeat Israel's oppressor.
"Barak said to her, 'If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go'" (Judges 4:8). And so, Deborah was tipped out of her courtroom and onto a battlefield. Experience did not ready Deborah for this. Deborah's personal history did not prepare her for this. But the word of the Lord gave her faith for what lay ahead.
"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1 NKJV)
Perhaps you face a battle today...but know this: that struggle is just a pathway—known and allowed by God—which leads to your triumph. Your victory is appointed and declared by God ahead of time.
This is Your Tipping Point
Deborah and Gideon faced similar circumstances:
• Both received a word from God that it was time for Israel to confront their oppressors.
• Both were called upon to leave their familiar surroundings and head to the battle lines.
Yet, these two were different. Deborah was a woman of faith. Gideon had only known fear. Deborah was familiar with God's Word. Gideon was new to God's commands. You may relate mostly to Deborah or to Gideon, or (most likely) to both. Take heart from these snapshots of their stories today. For the same God who called Deborah, and Gideon, is calling you.
Perhaps, as He did with Gideon and Deborah, God is tipping you out. In one sense, everything has prepared you for this, but in another sense, nothing has prepared you for this. You are stepping into your God-zone. This is where Jesus gets the glory! "Go in the strength you have." This is your new strength, a strength reliant wholly upon God.
Helen Calder
Enliven Ministries
Email: helen@enlivenpublishing.com
Website: www.enlivenministries.net
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries, a part of the David McCracken Ministries family. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in the areas of hearing God's voice, prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog, an online prophetic training and mentoring resource that reaches thousands of people globally. Helen and Malcolm have been married for 36 years.
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