Live in Victory, not Discouragement
I love to be on the winning side. It is not so much fun losing. I have found, however, that too many Christians live their lives defeated when we really are on the winning side. Someone once said, “Battles are won, not by men, but by a man”. I think that person was right in more ways than one. Victories are won, not by Christians, but by Christ. It is our privilege and our joy to share in His victory.
I like this little story told by Stan Toler in his book entitled, “God Has Never Failed Me, but He's Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times”. He said that a man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game and asked one of the youngsters what the score was.
"We're losing 18-0." the little boy answered.
“Well, I must say you don't look discouraged.” the man said.
"Discouraged?" the boy replied. “Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet.”
The choice is ours. We can either be changed by the circumstances, or we can change the circumstances around us. We do not need to live defeated, discouraged lives as Christians. As Christians, we have victory in Jesus. We need to claim that victory and live in that victory. Satan cannot keep us defeated unless we let him. In 1st John, we are told that we are winners. John gives us a clear understanding that we are victorious, and we have overcome. We are overcoming, and we will continue to overcome through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we do not need to live defeated, discouraged lives as Christians. We do not need to be changed by the circumstances. We can change the circumstances around us. As Christians, we have victory in Jesus. Claim that victory and live in that victory. Don't let Satan keep you defeated. Get up to the plate and take a swing at it, and live victorious in Jesus.We have Victory in Jesus because He is the victory that overcomes the world.
1st John 5:4&5 tells us:
"4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith. 5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God."
Jesus has won the battle over sin, Satan, and our circumstances. We have the victory in Jesus. We must claim it by faith and live it each day by faith. Let's not allow the devil, the flesh, or the world change us. We must be the change agent.
Lift your eyes up and see the victory that we have in Christ. Claim that victory, and live in that victory today! Get up to the plate and take a swing at it, and live victorious in Jesus.