Why am I seeing Tim Hawkin’s face as I type today’s title? The one that’s been making all the FB rounds. In case you haven’t seen it… I know it’s not quite Christmas, though stores are decorating for Halloween, so, holly and tinsel is just around the corner, right?

Anyway, watch and enjoy:

Now back to your regularly scheduled devotion. 😉 (Although before you get too far, I must apologize for my lack of images. This page looks so bland! But until I get my computer back…)

I’ve often wished our daughter would view herself as my husband and I do. I wish she’d realize how talented, smart, fun, and beautiful she is. But rather, she focuses on the negative. “Have you noticed how my right big toe sticks out further than my left? It’s entirely too big. How embarrassing!”

Ok, so maybe she’s not that bad, but you get the point. Some of her insecurity comes from being a teenager–do you remember your high school days? Holy cow. Wouldn’t go back if you paid me.

Most of it comes from allowing others to determine her worth rather than God.

We all do that, don’t we? We’re social people. We were created to live in community. A community that builds us up, feeds us truth, and points us back to Christ.

At least, that’s the goal, right?

As we are pointing ourselves to Him, allowing His truth to settle deep into our hearts and minds.

Viewing ourselves as He sees us.

Have you ever wondered how God sees you? Have you wondered what would happen if you not only caught a glimpse of that but owned it and lived it out? What life might look like if you lived as the man or woman God created you to be?

For a guy named Gideon, God’s view of Him–a view that was directly connected to his call–changed everything.

It was a sad time in Israel’s history. They’d rebelled against God, and as a result, He removed His protective hand, leaving them easy prey for the cruel Midianites. Things became so bad, the Israelites fled to caves where they hid as enemy raiders stripped them of their crops and their cattle.

Their only source of food.

During this time, Gideon was hiding out among the wine press, threshing wheat, hoping and praying he wouldn’t be found. I’m not sure where the wheat came from, but I do know it was a very rare, much needed food source. I envision Gideon hunched over, sweat pouring down his face, his heart thrashing, as he cast frequent glances behind him, ever alert to the sound of hooves or clomping feet. Aware that at any minute, this last morsel of food could be stripped from him.

It was here, when this seemingly insignificant man was cowering, hoping just to make it to another day, that the angel of God approached.

“Mighty hero! The LORD is with you!” the angle said. (Judges 6:12)

In the NASB and NIV, the angel calls him a mighty warrior. In the ESV, “O mighty man of valor.”

Imagine, at the very moment you were cowering, trembling with fear, hearing God call you a mighty warrior.

“Um… ” He starts to stand, looks around, his knees still wobbly. “You talking to me, Lord?”

Ignoring Gideon’s fear, insecurities, and protests, God then tells him to “Go with the strength you have. Am I not sending you?”

In other words, don’t worry about what you can’t do. Don’t focus on your failures or weaknesses. Rather, focus on Me and the task I have assigned.

Be the warrior I created you to be, the warrior I will help you to be.”

To which Gideon replies: “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)

The Lord, his Creator, called him a mighty warrior, and yet, rather than focusing on that, rather than aligning his perception with Gods, he focused on his weakness and insecurities.

“I am the least…”

Have you ever felt like that?

“I am too tired.”

“I am too weak.”

“I can’t talk in front of people…”

Let’s talk about this. How often do we behave like Gideon? The Bible tells us, those who belong to Christ are more than conquerors, we’re redeemed, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, we are cherished, beloved, adopted sons and daughters.

What might our day look like, what might we be able to accomplish, if we saw ourselves as God saw us, quit centering on our weaknesses, and went out in the strength we have, knowing He will make up the difference. Share your thoughts here in the comments below or on Living by Grace on FB.

Those of you wanting to follow my book launch blog tour, here’s a handful of the places I’ve been lately:

I shared some writing tips on Faithwriters in my article titled So You Wanna Be a Writer.

Yesterday on Takin’ it to the Streets I talked about keeping our thoughts on Christ when our world felt crazy. When Your Faith is Falling… Remember. 

Inner Source interviewed the heroine of Beyond I Do Monday and interviewed me yesterday.

On Aug. 21st, I shared ways we creative types can fuel our creativity (because everyone hits a lull now and then. You can read this article here. 

I also shared a piece similar to today’s but focused specifically on one’s calling, especially though not limited to writers. You can read that here.

Oh, I also wanted to let everyone know, Beyond I Do is now available in ebook form, for under $8 even! You can get it here. If you haven’t read the 36 page free excerpt, you can do so here.