Mighty Man of Valor

Least likely… ever feel that way?

According to Judges (6:10-24), there was definitely a man who had a major inferiority complex: Gideon. Discovered in a wine press, an angel of the Lord popped up, saying…

“…‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’”

(verse 12)

And Gideon’s reaction? He questioned if God was ever there with him; he felt abandoned.

^“…‘O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”

 (Verse 13)

Terrific.

But God reassures him, encouraging him to go and get some victory, underscoring it with ‘Have I not sent you?’”(verse 14).

But Gideon argued his realistic viewpoint instead:

“…‘O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

(Verse fifteen)

Attack of the fifty foot case of “Least likely.”

Still, God tried to reassure him…

“And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Verse 16

But Gideon did not have a case of the fifty foot confidence- in God OR in himself! And he did what- let’s get real- you and I often do when it comes to dealing with God: He wanted to see a sign and sweeten the deal with human effort…

^“Then he said to Him, ‘If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. ¹⁸ Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.’”

Verse 17-18

This was followed by waiting…

“And He said, ‘I will wait until you come back.’”

(Verse 18)

 So Gideon went about his business, trying to make this thing happen (verse 19) until an angel popped up again with the sign (verses 20-21).

And bam- NOW Gideon gets it- God really IS with him (took a minute)!

^“Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”

(Verse 22)

But wait, God wasn’t done yet. There was still more reassurance going on…

 “Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.”

(Verse 23)

To which Gideon commemorated the whole thing…

^“So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it ‘The-Lord-Is-Peace.’…”

(Verse 24)

Whew! Who needs a nap? Did Gideon really need that much reassurance from God? Apparently so.

And, unfortunately, it’s not that uncommon of a situation for those of us struggling with eating disorders. There’s tremendous insecurity and low self-worth driving the behaviors (just check out the Emotional Characteristics, listed below).

Unfortunately, because of the untrue myth out there that eating disorders are only “a girl issue,” many males suffer in secrecy. Add to that challenge, the negative stigma attached to males struggling. There seems to be a deep shame and a blow to self-confidence. But God IS your confidence! And, regardless of what you’re dealing with, He wants to help you just as much as He helped Gideon, this “mighty man of valor!”

We need to change the perception of that word. You are that already! A lack of medals, achievements, realized goals or feelings which support the reality of that word never change your standing. Don’t hide in shame or defeat! Come out, get help; you’re not alone!

Be who God has created you to be, valor and all!!!

Copyright © 2014 by Sheryle Cruse

Anorexia Nervosa in Males

Anorexia nervosa is a severe, life-threatening disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant distortion in the perception of the shape or size of his body, as well as dissatisfaction with his body shape and size.

Behavioral Characteristics:

·         Excessive dieting, fasting, restricted diet

·         Food rituals

·         Preoccupation with body building, weight lifting, or muscle toning

·         Compulsive exercise

·         Difficulty eating with others, lying about eating

·         Frequently weighing self

·         Preoccupation with food

·         Focus on certain body parts; e.g., buttocks, thighs, stomach

·         Disgust with body size or shape

·         Distortion of body size; i.e., feels fat even though others tell him he is already very thin

Emotional and Mental Characteristics:

·         Intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight

·         Depression

·         Social isolation

·         Strong need to be in control

·         Rigid, inflexible thinking, “all or nothing”

·         Decreased interest in sex or fears around sex

·         Possible conflict over gender identity or sexual orientation

·         Low sense of self-worth—uses weight as a measure of worth

·         Difficulty expressing feelings

·         Perfectionistic -- strives to be the neatest, thinnest, smartest, etc.

·         Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating

·         Irritability, denial -- believes others are overreacting to his low weight or caloric restriction

·         Insomnia 

Physical Characteristics:

·         Low body weight (15% or more below what is expected for age, height, activity level)

·         Lack of energy, fatigue

·         Muscular weakness

·         Decreased balance, unsteady gait

·         Lowered body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate

·         Tingling in hands and feet

·         Thinning hair or hair loss

·         Lanugo (downy growth of body hair)

·         Heart arrhythmia

·         Lowered testosterone levels

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/males-and-eating-disorders

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