Blessed Above All Else Is A Willing Heart.
 
Gideon was threshing wheat beside the wine press when He noticed a man sitting under an oak tree. squinting his eyes in disbelief and his mouth half open, Gideon stared at the stranger who had discovered his secret hiding place. The intruder startled Gideon with, “The Lord is with you, “mighty warrior.” “Are you talking to me, sir? Gideon responded. You say the Lord is with me? Oh yeah, the Lord is with me all right, and all of Israel, can’t you tell? We’ve lost our land, our crops, our livelihood, and dignity. We live in caves and hide from our enemies. If you want the truth, the Lord has abandoned us. We’ve heard enough about the miracles of the PAST, we need a miracle NOW!” 

The man stood to face Gideon eye to eye. “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of the Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” God in advance supplied the strength awaiting Gideon’s willingness to obey.

Suddenly Gideon realized, this was no stranger he was speaking to, but God Himself. He attempted to convince the Lord He had chosen the wrong man by giving excuses and testing Him to confirm this was the real thing.
   
God sees your struggles, dear reader. Even if you’re hiding in discouragement, bitterness, or despair He seeks you out with an invitation. Step forward in the strength available to you.

 Jesus gave Gideon an unfamiliar name  — “mighty warrior.”
It wasn’t a name Gideon claimed to be, but one he was to become.

With God’s calling comes both the ability and strength for the task.

“Where are the miracles of the past?” Gideon had to ask. He was expecting someone to come and rescue his people from their plight, but God said, 

“The miracle is you, Gideon!”

As with Gideon, you are God’s chosen miracle, called to be light in a dark world. Go in the strength God gives you, the Lord is with you, “mighty warrior.”

Psalms 18:39

For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

Psalm 44:5

Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name, we will trample down those who rise up against us. 

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;