Victory
I can remember back (not THAT long ago) to the junior high or middle school years when everyone was goofy and awkward. Voices were changing, social groups were developing, and kids were learning what it felt like to be mean. Although I made friends easily, there was a time when I briefly struggled with being bullied. I learned quickly, being a smaller fellow, that it was wise to have BIG friends. I had faith that being close to the “reigning” authority would benefit me.
As adults we work the same way. The closer we are to Jesus, our protector, the more faith we have that we will participate in the victory he has already prepared. Take a look:
In 1 John 5:4 it says, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (ESV)
Another version says it this way, “Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.” (MSG)
From his book, Giant Slayers, Leif Hetland says, “Fear believes something disastrous will happen. Faith believes something positive will happen.”
The “positive” that we can look forward to and lean into is God takes the bad, the hard, the scary things around us, and turns it for good.
Deuteronomy 23:5 says, “But the Lord your God would not listen to [the enemy]; instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.” (ESV)
Jesus has already won the eternal victory over death, and over the ongoing attacks of our enemy. We can have faith to operate our lives from victory, not towards victory.
What place in your life right now do you need to live from the victory God has already won rather than trying to win the victory on your own?
What thoughts or situations in your life right now do you need God to redeem and transform from cursing into blessing?
God’s Father-heart is for you and me, and He desires for us to share in the victory with Him.
The song “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship has been a reminder to me and I pray it blesses you as well. May we see the victory He’s already prepared for us as His children!
