Daily Devotional for Wednesday May 9, 2007
Living in Victory or Defeat is Up to You
(John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 15:24, Revelation 3:21)
I want to give you a word of encouragement today that you don't have to live in defeat, but YOU CAN LIVE IN VICTORY! Even more important, you have 100% control over whether you live in victory or defeat! That is right. YOU, and nobody else holds the key to whether you live in victory or defeat. This is a powerful, life-changing word today so please open your heart and receive what God is saying to you. You don't need to go hear the latest motivational guru of the day, or buy the latest books and tapes on being successful, just open your heart and receive this powerful Truth that living in victory is up to you and nobody else!
I know that many of you reading these words today are in a major crisis in your life. You are facing what seems to be insurmountable odds in your finances, in your health, in your marriage, on your job, with your children, in battling an addiction, or whatever your situation may be today. As you face these very real struggles, you see nothing but defeat. Of course, nobody wants to live in defeat, everyone wants to live in victory. That is only common sense. But you have done and are doing everything you can to turn things around. However, your finances are no better, your marriage is no better, your health is no better, your job is still a nightmare, your children are still living in rebellion to God, you are still in some form of bondage, you are not seeing any hope in whatever your battle may be. So you have every right to question me when I state that living in defeat or victory is up to you.
Here is the key to help you. Living in victory has nothing to do with the day-to-day circumstances and challenges we face in our life. I know most of you didn't get that one, so let me say it again. Listen carefully. Living in victory has NOTHING to do with the day-to-day circumstances and challenges we face in our life. This is heavy so follow me. The fact is, you will ALWAYS have trials and tribulations, challenges and battles to fight throughout your entire life. That is simply part of living in this sin-filled and evil world we do. NOBODY is immune from the trials and tribulations of life. NOBODY. It is part of EVERYONE'S life. You can still live in victory regardless of what your circumstances may be. You can still live in victory regardless of what you are facing in your life today.
YOU CAN LIVE IN VICTORY TODAY BECAUSE OF JESUS!
Choosing to live in victory is the choice you make when you choose to follow Jesus! Jesus won the victory on the cross 2000 years ago, and those who choose to put their faith and trust in Him, invite Christ into their heart and life by faith, live in His victory no matter what may be going on in their lives. Remember that great old hymn, "Victory in Jesus?" It is true. You see when you know Jesus, you understand that in this life you will have trials and tribulations, that you will have tests along the way. But because you know Jesus you have already won the victory. This world is not your home, just a few short years of an eternal existence with Christ. No matter what you may have to face and deal with in this life, it is but for a season since your eternal home in Heaven is secure and waiting for you.
The problems of this life are nothing but hurdles. You can either let them stop you, paralyze you, rob you of your peace and joy and abundance, or you can find a way to get over them. There is no hurdle in your life today that the Lord won't help you overcome. If your hurdle is finances, Jesus will help you overcome it. If your hurdle is a marital problem, Jesus will help you overcome it. If your hurdle is a health issue, Jesus will help you overcome it. If your hurdle is a problem at work, Jesus will help you overcome it. If your hurdle is a problem with your children, Jesus will help you overcome it. If your hurdle is an addiction of some sort, Jesus will help you overcome it. No matter what your hurdle may be, JESUS WILL HELP YOU OVERCOME IT!
That does not mean you will never have financial problems, or health issues, or problems in your marriage, or an issue with your employment, or problems with your children, or battle some sort of addiction, or face a whole host of other problems. Just hours before going to the cross, Jesus told His disciples that in this world they would have trials and tribulations. He told them that so they wouldn't be fooled into thinking that just because they had chosen to follow Him they would live without any problems. That is impossible since we are living in a fallen world that for the most part operates in rebellion to God and His Truth. But Jesus encouraged them by saying, "Be of good cheer for I have overcome this world!"
That is why today I can say to you, living in victory or defeat is up to you. You can choose to live a life of defeat by rejecting Jesus Christ and not only deal with the problems of this life, but live without the hope of tomorrow. Your defeat is NOT in the problems of this life but in the fact that when you die, you will live for all eternity apart from God your Creator. By choosing to accept Christ as your Savior, you have a new strength to face life's problems, to overcome life's problems, but most important the hope of tomorrow in knowing that when your brief journey is complete you will spend all eternity with God your Creator!!!
I love you and care about you so much. Living in victory has nothing to do with the circumstances you are facing in your life today. There will always be problems to deal with, always be hurdles. If you think back 10 years ago, you had problems in your life. It was God who saw you through those problems. If you think back 5 years ago, you had problems in your life. It was God who saw you through those problems. If you think back 6 months ago, you had problems in your life. It was God who saw you through those problems. The fact is, there will always be problems living in this sin-filled world that we do, but God is there to help you and see you through whatever those problems may be!
Living a life of defeat or victory has nothing to do with the day-to-day trials of life, but it has to do with your relationship with Jesus Christ! You can choose to live a life of defeat by rejecting Him, or live a life of victory by accepting Him into your heart and life by faith. I will be praying for you today as you make the choice to live a life of VICTORY!