Page 12 - Good News April 2016 paper

Continued from p. 11Continued from p. 11 abused or rejected and as a result believing God is on your side and are all words used to describe
ding to our works, but according have low self-esteem and little has your best interest in mind? what God desires to do in our
to His own purpose and grace, self-worth. They may say to It's time for you to get a revelation lives. Turning ashes into beauty
which was given us in Christ themselves, "But I did not come of the goodness of God. He is not is not an auxiliary benefit of the
Jesus before the world began" (2 from a wealthy family." "I do not looking for perfect people, and He Christian experience; it is the
Timothy 1:9). have a good education." "I'm not is not intimidated by your past. He heart of the Gospel, and it is
smart enough." "I was abused." "I desires "to console those who God's will for you!
Gideon was full of imperfections. do not have any talents or mourn in Zion, to give them
He was not esteemed highly in abilities." "I could never suc- beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know
the eyes of other people, and he ceed." mourning, the garment of praise the thoughts that I think toward
was a downright loser in his own for the spirit of heaviness; that you, says the Lord, thoughts of
eyes. But God looked at Gideon When Gideon looked in the mirror, they may be called trees of peace and not evil, to give you a
just as Michelangelo looked at all he could see were disadvan- righteousness, the planting of the future and a hope" (NKJV). Does
that rejected piece of marble. In tages and shortcomings. He Lord, that He may be glorified" God have a plan for your life? The
Gideon God could see beauty doubted that he was capable of (Isaiah 61:3, NKJV). answer is a resounding yes! But
where everyone else saw only greatness and was not convinced it's even better than that. Not only
defects. My friend, you might the Lord had picked the right man Paul wrote about this same truth does God have a plan, but He
have been written off by every- for the job. But the Lord knew in Romans 8:28 when he said, also has a good plan that is
one else. You might think your exactly what Gideon needed to "And we know that all things work "exceedingly abundantly above
life is far too flawed to ever be hear, and He spoke words that together for good to those who all that we ask or think" (Eph.
something beautiful. But our God went right to the heart of Gideon's love God, to those who are called 3:20, NKJV). And with that
is the Master Artist! He sees "an inadequacy: "The Lord said to according to His purpose" confidence, we can begin our
angel" in the rock of your life, and him, 'Surely I will be with you'" (NKJV). When we understand this journey of seeking His will for our
He wants to set it free. Through- (Judges 6:16, AMP). reality and it becomes part of the lives, "looking unto Jesus, the
out your life, no matter where you fabric of who we are, then we will author and finisher of our faith"
go or what you do, whenever God These must be the most com- begin to view every circum- (Heb. 12:2, NKJV), knowing that
looks at you, He sees inside of forting words in the entire world! stance, both positive and nega- "He who has begun a good work
you the potential He has placed To know that God is with you and tive, as a situation God can put to in you will complete it" (Phil. 1:6,
within you, and He is always that He is for you - this is the work for our good and the NKJV).
calling to that potential as He ultimate assurance! These were furtherance of His purposes.
called Lazarus out of the grave, the words Gideon needed to hear, Salvation, atonement, forgive- [From: LIVE Before You Die,
"Come out!" God wants to take and these are also the words you ness, justification, regeneration, Daniel Kolenda, Passio, 2013.
your life from the junkyard of the need to hear deep within your redemption, reconciliation - these www.cfan.org ].
devil and turn it into a master- spirit as you begin the journey of
piece, a trophy of His amazing discovering God's will for your
grace and mercy! life. Jesus knew you would need
to hear them, and this is why He
It's amazing to think that even said, "I will never leave you nor
after the Angel of the Lord had forsake you" (Heb. 13:5, NKJV)
appeared to Gideon and told him and again in Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I
plainly about God's goodwill am with you always, even to the
toward him, Gideon was slow to end of the age" (NKJV).
believe it. "And Gideon said to
him, O sir, if the Lord is with us, Romans 8:31-32 says, "What then
why is all this befallen us? And shall we say to these things? If
where are all His wondrous God is for us, who can be against
works of which our fathers told us? He who did not spare His own
us, saying, 'Did not the Lord Son, but delivered Him up for us
bring us up from Egypt?' But now all, how shall He not with Him also
the Lord has forsaken us and freely give us all things?" (NKJV).
given us into the hand of Midian. God is for you and not against
The Lord turned to him and said, you! Do you need evidence? In
'Go in this your might, and you this passage of Scripture Paul
shall save Israel from the hand of points to the cross as the ultimate
Midian. Have I not sent you?' proof of God's goodwill toward
Gideon said to Him, 'O Lord, how us. If God was willing to give His
can I deliver Israel? Behold, my own Son for us, how much more
clan is the poorest in Manasseh, can we trust that He will gladly
and I am the least in my father's and generously give us anything
house.'" (Judges 6:13-15 AMP). and everything we need?

Just as Gideon did, many people Do you feel like a failure? Does the
struggle with feelings of infe- past haunt you and define you?
riority. They may have been Do you have a difficult time