1 Chronicles 7:40
“All these were the children of Asher, heads of their fathers’ houses, choice men, mighty men of valor, chief leaders…”
What makes a person a “mighty man of valor?” Is it great strength? If that were the case Samson would be the most valiant man to have ever lived, instead of a man of wasted potential. Is it physical stature? King Saul was a head taller than anyone else in Israel yet he certainly lacked the ingredients that makes one valiant. Is it superior intellect? We know that Solomon was the most intelligent man of his day, yet with all that knowledge he did more to lead Israel away from the Lord than all who had gone before him. What then are the character qualities that make a person a man of valor?
Gideon is forever known as a mighty man of valor. Scripture tells us that this title was given to him while he was hiding from Midianite raiders. His title was given based upon who he would become not who he currently was. We find two key ingredients that turned Gideon from a coward to a man of valor.
The first is faith. Gideon chose to trust in the Word of God above his personal experience. When called by God to step into service Gideon did not allow his weakness to limit God. Instead He tested the promises of God and found them to be trustworthy.
Secondly Gideon lived in obedience to the Word. The Word of God was not something simply to read,highlight, underline, and Chart. For Gideon the Word was to be obeyed. When instructed to make changes in the home, cut the staff, or go to battle with all odds against him, Gideon got to work.
The world needs mighty men of valor today more than ever. Don’t let your limits get in the way of what God may want to do with your life. Instead of focussing on your weakness, look into His promises and put them into practice in your life.
Jim
2 Kings 23:3
2 Kings 24:3
Psalms 99:8
Psalm 100:3 
2 Kings 21:1-2
2 Kings 22:2
Psalm 97:10
A few years ago, while visiting a church, this particular verse was shared during the praise and worship. The worship leader drew application from the verse by encouraging everyone to sing whatever came to their mind at the moment. The result was a vast array of voices singing, speaking and in some cases shouting out different things about the character of God. While I do not doubt the sincerity of the worship team, or the congregation for that matter, I wonder if that is the best application for this verse. The psalmist, a song writer himself is actually encouraging us to author our own song to the Lord.
2 Kings 20:6
Psalm 95:6
2 Kings 17:9
2 Kings 18:33
Psalm 93:1
Psalm 94:1-3
2 Kings 15:4
Psalm 91:7
Psalms 92:13
The words of this Psalm became the lyrics to a worship song we used to sing when I first began following Jesus. Whenever I read it my mind becomes flooded with memories. My early days of following Christ were filled with firsts. I can recall one of the first times I raised my hands in worship. I was in a room filled with teenagers who were singing and I simply reached up toward the ceiling as if I were attempting to get as much from God as He would possibly give. I recall another occasion when I knelt for one of the first times. We were at a retreat and I was standing near the back when lifting my hands did not seem like enough of an expression of praise, I slipped away into the far corner of the room and knelt before the Lord as if to say “I am all Yours, Jesus.”
2 Kings 13:4-5
2 Kings 14:25
Psalm 90:10
Jim Gallagher 