I don’t know
a lot about victory. I’m neither an athlete nor a conqueror. I know about hard
work and careful preparation. I have won some awards and there are a few
music-related trophies with my name on them. But to fight and struggle in order to win … this gives me a rash.
My short list of "successes", includes
mostly the things that come naturally and easily to me.
My husband
leads a small group of men who LOVE to win! But, he grieves over all the obstacles and
snares our culture presents. He is well aware of the
temptations John mentions in the Bible: “Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh,
and the boastful pride of life.”
With his
best inspirational coaching voice, he has admonished them, “Guys, this is
going to be a battle … every, single day of your life … so learn to be
victorious today!”
I know he
means to inspire and equip them, but my passive, squeamish ears perceive discouragement when I think
about this daily struggle we call ‘life'.
“Every single day?”
I’m weary just thinking about it. Why can’t there be victory in Jesus – the end?
Why must we
still face trials? Why do so many temptations hiss at us - enticing us to live against our
redemption? Why do we battle? Why is life so hard?
“Every single day?”
I’m weary just thinking about it. Why can’t there be victory in Jesus – the end?
Why can’t there be victory in Jesus – the end?
Why is life
hard? Because we can somehow succeed at the easy stuff.
WE can.
With God, or
apart from God … it is our choice, but we think we can do “easy.”
Only God can
handle the difficulties. Only God can provide a way out when we are tempted.
Only God has strength to lay mountains low, and raise valleys high. Only God
has the power to withstand attacks from the enemy and triumph over death.
Only God.
And He has made His power
available.
His divine strength is made perfect in our … (big gulp and a sigh for all those over-achievers, out there) … weakness.
Admitting we are powerless invokes His power.
Dying to ourselves invites Him to live through us.
Losing makes winning possible.
His divine strength is made perfect in our … (big gulp and a sigh for all those over-achievers, out there) … weakness.
Admitting we are powerless invokes His power.
Dying to ourselves invites Him to live through us.
Losing makes winning possible.
Life is hard
because God is good. He wants more for us. He wants more of us. He wants the
best for us, and His best for us is hidden in Him. When we seek Him, we find
Him. When we call, He hears. When we confess that we are weak, He
proves to be strong. When we depend upon Him, He deepens our faith. When we
rely on Him, we rally a victory.
There are times - when I walk
by faith - I notice that the hard stuff can now become easy. So the “easy”
stuff is really where the problems lie. Those things I am so prone to
accomplish in my own strength will be my downfall. The simple tasks that don’t
seem to require a divine intervention will surely ruin me. Silently, the “doable”
stuff tricks me into walking by sight and I am lulled into defeat.
Silently the “doable” stuff tricks me
into walking by sight,
and I am lulled into defeat.
“Guys, this
is going to be a battle … every, single day of your life … so learn to be
victorious today!”
Don't be discouraged. Embrace the
battle. Deny yourself and your own strength. Learn from the
hard stuff that even the easy stuff needs to be lived out in whole-hearted
submission to God’s goodness and grace. This is the good fight. Press on to
win.
Faith is the Victory!
“For everyone who has been born of God
overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our
faith.” 1 John 5:4
