There’s a story in Judges 6-8 that should encourage each of us. The nation of Israel had failed to listen to God, so He handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites made their lives a living hell. In seven years, they had lost everything. People were starving to death. In desperation they called out to God. God heard their cry and sought out a man to deliver them… Gideon. But Gideon didn’t think he was capable. He gave God every excuse in the book… “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 said to him: “I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). As it turns out, God gave him the strength to accomplish an impossible feat… to deliver God’s people from the Midianites.
You know, we may not say it out loud… “Lord, I can’t do it.” Or “Lord, I don’t have what it takes.” Or “Lord, I’m not capable.” But our verse today says you can. In fact, we have a power inside us that is far greater than even the power that came upon Gideon. We have the third person of the Trinity taking up residence in our lives, so that means that we have the power to do ANYTHING.
We have the power to break free from generational bondage or generational sin (these can be the hardest to break). We have the power to overcome our shame (the things done to us) or our guilt (the things we’ve done). We have the power to stand courageous even if we’re all alone. We have the power to defeat the enemy seeking to destroy us. We have the power to live victoriously rather than bow to the culture as so many have done. We have the power to stand firm and not compromise. We have the power to do WHATEVER God asks of us. In fact, the power within us is unmatched and unmeasured.
Here's the thing though… we must recognize the things hindering us, the things keeping us from living a godly life. And not just recognize these things, but we must want freedom. But sometimes our comfort stops us from pursuing freedom. Those chains have become our comfort. I watched a video the other day of a rescued eagle take flight. It seems he had been in captivity for some time so that his brokenness could be fixed. But on the day his cage was opened, he walked out but hesitated for a while. The chains had become comfortable for him. Eventually, he mustered up enough courage to take the leap and soar.
If this is you, then you must know that there is a whole new life outside of your bondage. It’s yours. But you MUST want it. You have the power. Let me encourage you to grab ahold of it and go for it.