Mighty Men and Women of Valor!

What does it mean to be a man or a woman of valor? Webster's Dictionary describes valor as being strong, having “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness or personal bravery”. You may look in a mirror or reflect upon your behavior, deciding that valor does not describe you. However, as a born-again child of God, if you are evaluating yourself in this way, you are seeing the wrong picture. God says you are a mighty believer of valor!

God describes you this way:

“You have strength for all things in Christ who empowers you” (Philippians 4:13).

“Not in your own strength,” for it is God who is at work in you, “energizing and creating in you the power and desire both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

He made you more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)!

He made you an overcomer (1 John 5:4,5; 1 John 4:4)!

As Jesus is so are you now in this world because of your union and communion with Him (Amplified 1 John 4:17). How is Jesus? He possesses divine perfection, powers, and attributes (Colossians 1:19). Your union with Jesus is the result of the perfection of God’s love for you!

Based on His strength that He has given to you, God encourages you:

“Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Then, based on His strength for you, He instructs you:

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

“Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand on the evil day,” (the day of temptation, trials, and difficulties) “and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Since you are equipped in His strength, and with His ability you have “fearless confidence” (Hebrews 10:35) to perform and fully accomplish His will by steadfast patience (patience is what you possess in your spirit), and endurance (which is His strength working in and through you) (Hebrews 10:36). You endure by His strength; you have patience by the presence of His Spirit who is one with your spirit; patience is the results of the work of the Holy Spirit within you (Amplified Galatians 5:22).

All of these statements about who you are are true. This is a change that has occurred in your spirit because of the presence of God who now lives in you. God has spoken them and He is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19)! His Words paint a clear picture of the real you. You are His workmanship. Knowing this change that has occurred in your spirit, is to be confident of the presence of God within you. It is His presence that defines who you are. If you evaluate yourself any other way, you will see weakness, failure, and imperfection. When natural events of this world challenge you, you will respond with limitation instead of with the greatness that is within you. God’s Word is crucial so that you will be well-informed of the truth which allows you the opportunity of living an empowered life. This should be your expectation. If you see yourself contrary to God’s Word, you are establishing yourself on a foundation of defeat. You may see His Word, but judge yourself contrary to it based on circumstances or emotions, and ask yourself ‘What is wrong with me’? That is incorrect thinking. You are fully equipped with divine fullness. You are perfect and complete lacking nothing. This is who you are in your spirit, therefore, by renewing your mind to the Word of God, you will learn to live from your spirit (Romans 12:2). Otherwise, you will assess yourself according to feelings, circumstances, worldly ways, and judge yourself inappropriately, that is against the truth of God. You prove God’s will by His Word, not by evaluating it by your senses or any other natural thing (Romans 12:2).

The Lord says it very clearly: By His glory and excellence He has “bestowed on you His precious and exceedingly great promises so that… you become a partaker of His divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). That shows you what you are equipped with; it shows you who you really are and why you are a man or woman of valor!

Ask God to help you experience the benefits of His Word as you expose your ears, eyes, and mind to it. Be fully persuaded by truth and the power of it. Keep your heart expectant, always attentive to the Word of your Father. Receive His Word so that you will not live an impoverished life, but view yourself according to the workmanship that He created you to be. Don’t be like the Israelites who saw themselves contrary to what God said. They evaluated themselves by outward appearances, by their emotions, and by their circumstances, determining incorrectly that they were like “grasshoppers” compared to the inhabitants of the promised land given to them by God. This contrary view against God’s Word prohibited them from receiving the blessing. (Numbers 13:2, 30-33). 

God has spoken to you by His Word and told you who you are. Yet, how often do you turn to Him and say, “I am too weak” (Judges 6:15)? When God says, “Surely, I am with you (Judges 6:16) that should be enough! When God instructs you to be anxious for nothing, that command should confirm what you are capable of because of His equipping. His instructions should be enough to drive you into His Word to receive the necessary fortification to complete the task and to live according to His commands.

You are a mighty man or woman of valor child of God!