The Thrill of Victory
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
Deuteronomy 20:4
Which do you experience the most, the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat? What does the Lord consider victory and what do we consider victory? If we have victory according to the Lord, this victory can be experienced even when things in the worldly life appear to be the agony of defeat. The ultimate victory is when we take our last breath and step into eternity with our Lord, but in this world we have victory when we overcome the world. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John5:4)
What is the victory that overcomes the world? Walking with the Lord living according to his ways, as he molds us to the mind and heart of Christ, which means we can experience victory throughout life as God is continually changing us. And as he changes us we reap the blessings of a heart of love, peace, and joy; and the confidence that through Christ we can overcome anything. Our trust in the Lord soars as we seek his will with comfort, knowing we are in his protective hands with our souls are destined for our heavenly reward. There is victory every time we have taken a step closer to the Lord, because he reveals something new and exciting to us that increases our love and faith.
In this world we have worldly needs, food, clothes, housing, health, finances, fellowship, and sometimes obtaining these things can be difficult. How are we to balance the agony of defeat in the physical life with the thrill of victory in the Spiritual life? For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. (Psalm 31:3) We are comforted by the Lord’s love and by his promise to guide and give us the strength to endure anything Satan puts in our path. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. (Psalm 119:76) In this life tragedies will occur, but the Lord will carry us through with his love and his strength if we continue living as his servant.
Today experience victory in the Spirit as you overcome old ways with new Godly ways. Seek victory by being mindful to seek the Spirit’s guidance in a situation that you normally results in defeat. If anything occurs today that falls in the category of defeat, pray and seek guidance to overcome.
Prayer: Lord, help me today to experience victory in Christ and overcome any old bad habits. Guide me to be mindful of victory and not fall into the agony of defeat. Keep my thoughts on others and to see who needs an encouraging word or who has an open heart to hear the good news of Christ. This is real victory pointing people to Christ. In Jesus name, Amen