A great message about being continually thankful and how that attitude can transform you and the world around you. Key Bible Verses: Luke 17:11-19; Colossians 12:12-17

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The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” Judges: 12-13a

1. GOD USES RELUCTANT WARRIORS. When God called Gideon to step up and rescue the people of Israel, Gideon responded with excuses: God’s abandoned us; I’m the least important and the youngest; if this is You, God, prove it. He was expressing attitudes that had been formed by years of oppression and disappointment. But God was introducing Gideon to a new way of thinking.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

1. RUN FROM STRIFE. “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out” (Proverbs 17:14). God has designed us for unity and harmony, but as you go through life, opportunities for strife will come up (Matthew 18:7). Strife is seductive in the moment, but yielding to it will hinder your effectiveness and progress. As much as it depends on you, pursue peace (Romans 12:18).

So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took the supplies and went as Jesse had commanded him. 1 Samuel 17:20

1. STAY FAITHFUL. The story of David and how he conquered Goliath will help you to face off with the giants that are looming before you. Some of the greatest things we achieve never look that great at the start (Zechariah 4:10). David’s victory began with an average chore when his father told him to take bread and cheese to his brothers who were in battle. When we are faithful in the small tasks—like getting up early, leaving our sheep with a keeper, and taking food to our brothers—God will give us responsibility over greater things (Luke 16:10).

1. Start With Praise. “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). There are pools of wisdom and resource found in the presence of God. When you go to God, start out with praise first and focus on God before going into your petitions.

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. Luke 6:31

1. Follow the Golden Rule. If you want to be radical, live your life after Luke 6:31. God has designed Christians to exert influence in the earth. The best thing you can do for this world is to walk in love, to treat others how you want to be treated. You don’t have to rely on the strength of your personality—this goes way past disposition and temperament. It’s God’s power working in you that makes it possible to live this radical kind of life.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5

Get Certain. Our beliefs, when rooted in and built on God’s Word, create supernatural strength and power. When you are attacked in an area of uncertainty, go to the stabilizing Word of God to get your mind renewed. Knowing God’s will through His Word will take you from disorientation to focus, from depletion and defeat to confidence and courage.

The people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32b

Respond To God. The champions of the Bible were not unattainable superheroes. They were men and women who simply responded to God, believed the word that He had given them, and acted on the mission. That’s where they found the strength and that’s where we too will find the strength to complete our course.

God’s Favor. In the family of God there is no favoritism. Favoritism creates elitism, promotes jealousy, and produces an attitude of entitlement. But God’s favor overturns and eliminates those weird things. When you know you have favor with God, you are able to stand tall and step up to the challenges of life.

For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

When Jesus enters your life, He changes you. The people who encountered Jesus in the Bible came in broken and sick and left restored and healed. Whatever you’re facing, God’s promises and miraculous work are just as alive today as they were in the Bible (Micah 7:20, Psalm 105:8, Hebrews 13:8).