Man of Valor: Leading with Strength and Humility

God’s Promise: “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” — Judges 6:12 (ESV)

Called to Serve: From Darkness to Light

Men, there are moments in life when we believe we are doing exactly what God wants, only to realize we are walking in our own pride. I learned this lesson the hard way.

I was convinced that God wanted me to serve as a missionary. I did my research, sought advice, and prepared myself for the mission field. But I had never actually stopped to ask, Is this truly what God has called me to? Like the sons of Thunder in Luke 9:54-55, I had zeal without wisdom. I thought I was serving God, but in reality, I was serving my own desire to be seen as a faithful servant. When God shut the door, I felt the sting of rebuke. For days, I was filled with sorrow—not because my plans had failed, but because I realized I had hurt Jesus by pushing my own will over His.

Oswald Chambers once said that we reveal our ignorance of God when we are determined to serve Him in our own way. That realization hit me like a ton of bricks. If God had not corrected me early, I might have wasted years in misplaced service, far from where He truly wanted me.

God has already called us men of valor, long before we recognize it ourselves. Look at Gideon. When the angel of the LORD appeared to him, Gideon was hiding in fear, yet God called him a mighty man of valor (Judges 6:12). The same goes for Moses and Jeremiah, both of whom doubted their own worthiness. Yet God called them into His service despite their fears.

Shepherding your family is one of the highest callings of Biblical masculinity. It requires strength and humility, boldness and gentleness, wisdom and submission. As husbands, fathers, uncles, and grandfathers, we are called to protect and provide, but also to lead with compassion. The world will tell you that a “strong man” is one who stands alone, but God calls us to stand with Him, clothed in His armor, walking in His strength.

For a time, I was blinded by my own pride. I was so determined to serve God in a way that made sense to me that I ignored the ways He had already called me to serve. I had convinced myself that my plans were holy, but in reality, they were self-serving. I had to humble myself before the Lord and let Him redirect my steps. And when I did, I found clarity and peace.

1 John 1:6 warns us, “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” I had to admit that I had been walking in the darkness of self-righteousness. But the beauty of God’s grace is that when we confess, He brings us back into the light.

If you find yourself wrestling with pride or self-reliance in your service to God, I encourage you to take a step back. Ask yourself: Am I truly seeking God’s will, or am I chasing my own idea of what serving Him should look like? He has already given you a mission—to shepherd, serve, and steward your family. When you embrace that calling, you will find purpose beyond anything your own plans could offer.


Today’s Value:

Humility in Leadership – True servant leadership begins when we surrender our pride and allow God to direct our steps. A man of valor leads not by his own strength, but by the wisdom and guidance of the Lord.


Reflection Questions:

  1. In what ways have you tried to serve God in your own strength rather than in His?
  2. How can you practice humility in your role as a servant leader in your family?
  3. What steps can you take to ensure that your service aligns with God’s calling rather than your own ambitions?

Bible References:

  • Judges 6:12 (ESV)
  • Luke 9:54-55 (ESV)
  • 1 John 1:6 (ESV)
  • 1 John 1:8-10 (ESV)

#fatherhood #servantleadership #FaithfulShepherds #ChristCenteredHome #menoftheshepherd #TheHarvestField


Discover more from Men of the Shepherd

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Scroll to Top