Joel 3:10 (ESV)
let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”
Many a time my once upon little children would tell me, “Mum, I cannot do this.” A chore. Math problem. A project. Stepping into a new environment such as a new class, meeting new people, learning to pray aloud. The list is never ending. My response remains the same. “Child, you can do it. Let me show you. Watch.” Some tasks are immediately mastered on the spot while others take some practice. Nevertheless, the child is empowered to carry out the task independently and victoriously.
God is the good Father whose deep grace and patience never fails to amaze me. His gift of grace empowers us and his patience enables us. There is nothing we cannot do when our Father tasks us and stands with us, just as I stood with my little children and walked them through the journey of learning. The difference is I do not know every single thing as an earthly parent. But our Father knows best. He calls us to drink in his grace and then rely on him fully as he patiently shows us the way. “Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” (Matthew 11:29, MSG)
Walk. Work. Watch. Fix our eyes on him, move with him and carefully analyse how he does it. Learn it. Live it. In that process, he will lead us to use our most natural gifting as tools to be sharpened to wage war. Read Joel 3.
He declares each of us as warriors. Warriors are strong, capable and resilient people. They are daring and fight for a cause. You may exclaim, “Nah, that’s definitely not me.” You may be too young and ignorant. You are old and ill. You are inadequate. You are poor. You have a hidden past. You are…..(what are your weaknesses? You name it). And hear again in your spirit, God says – let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” Hear again! “Let the weak say…”
He didn’t say, “Let the strong say…”
He didn’t say, “Let the rich say…”
He didn’t say, “Let the healthy and fit say…”
He didn’t say, “Let the skillful say…”
He didn’t say, “Let the elite say…”
He says – weak! Weak is negative and useless in the world’s eyes. Yet God would choose the weak to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27). He empowers the weak with his grace which is ever sufficient for us and enables us with his patient guidance. With that he issues the decree to you and I as warriors.
Today, boldly declare aloud, “I am a warrior.”
Arise, warriors of the army of God!
“The Lord of Host, we are your warriors. We arise to our call. Command us. We will step forward and align. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 6 April 2020.