A Willing Heart

The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was hiding from his enemies in fear. Yet the angel’s message was, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12, NIV). Gideon did not feel strong or courageous—quite the opposite! But God wasn’t speaking about Gideon’s past or his ability. He was announcing what He could do through His powerful presence.

That same truth changed Andrew Palau’s life. For years, Andrew resisted God’s call to be a preaching evangelist. Speaking in public filled him with dread—he knew he wasn’t good at it! And he felt certain he was the wrong person for the job.

But when he read Gideon’s story, the words of Judges 6:12 struck Andrew. God called Gideon “mighty warrior” before he ever fought a battle. Andrew realized God wasn’t dependent on human ability—but His own ability. God was declaring what was possible through His own strength.

That realization shifted everything. As Andrew surrendered his fear, God began to ...

“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed ...