Victory with a Capital V
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We are all too familiar with the word ‘battle’ in our world today. In our own individual lives, for those who have faith in Jesus Christ, we deal with spiritual battles with being tested and tempted. This is a fact.
However, we are Victors with a capital V. As I have been reading through the book of Colossians I came across one of my life verses. Look at God’s promise and guarantee to us. “God rescued us from the dark power of satan and brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son, who forgives our sins and sets us free” (1:13).
I am so encouraged and awestruck at the lives of people who walked our path recorded in the pages of Scriptures. Remember Job who walked through such a valley of destruction, or King David who had to hide in caves like an animal being hunted? There was Naomi who lost not only her husband but two sons and had to return empty handed to her homeland. Paul was beaten and imprisoned for sharing Christ, and Joseph faced the dirty walls of a pit thrown in by jealous brothers. Yet, God shared about these people to show us that they not only were Victors, but so are we.
It is not easy to understand all that God allows us to endure. In fact, there have been many times I can’t comprehend that a loving God would allow Satan to test me and try me. The question is why not? What makes me exempt from satan’s arrows? God is in control and knows what we will and can endure. We have to be on guard. We also have to look at our personal lives and make sure that the choices we are making are ones that God would be pleased with. Anger can cause huge ramifications on our path. A lie can change the course of something special, and gossip can hurt people beyond our own human comprehension. We are tempted and tested but God has given us choices to make so let us choose wisely. Peter says in his book, “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith.”
1) God’s Guard
I spend many summer weekends swimming in the waves. If I am not on guard, those huge waves can overtake me and then I am in trouble. That is what it is like as a Christ-follower. We have to be ever mindful to be on guard for things that set us apart from Christ. Some things are very easy to detect but others are so slight. Stand firm and stand on guard. We are in God’s Army and on His Watch.
2) God’s Resources
After taking your stand to be on guard, then ask God for His help, the Ultimate Resource. He has given us special amour to wear. Colossians continues on by saying, “We always pray that God will show you everything he wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that his Spirit gives. ….His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything…“ God is at our disposal to hear our cry for help. The lines of communication are always open. God will give us His wisdom and His understanding. His Holy Spirit gives this freely to His soldiers. When we ask, God will help us walk this journey to endure the battle. There is a worship chorus that says “the battle belongs to the Lord”. So get your amour on and let God fight for you!
3) God’s Joy
I could never understand that in the middle of the tunnel of oppression, we can rejoice. Take the time to praise God and take the time to rejoice in your heritage of God’s own. Take the time so that despite the feeling of the pressing battle, God is standing in the balance protecting us and cheering us on. The portion in Colossians 1 says “…and you will be truly happy, and ….who forgives our sins and sets us free”!
Remember we are Victors, a royal priesthood chosen by Almighty God Himself. Let Him protect you from the strongholds that bind you. Keep your decisions and attitudes in check as you allow God to fight for you.
Let’s not run ahead but be ever mindful of the responsibility we have. We are not without battles but we are Victors and we are truly free!
Father God, we thank you that You give us Your amour, and Your protection. Thank you that You go to battle for me and because of the work of Jesus’ death, I am a Victor. Give us strength to move forward in Your strength. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
Questions: What strongholds are you facing today? What are your next steps? Take time to praise the God who fights your battles.
About the Author Linda Goodhand Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Life Together: Authentic Friendships, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
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I am so often reminded that ‘we are more then conquerors through Jesus Christ’. That helps me to hold on when times are tough and satan is tempting me. We serve an All-Mighty, King of Kings who passionately loves us and is fighting for us. Go forth with His strength and His power! Linda Goodhand Rodgers
Linda, thank you for the devotional. The one stronghold I am facing right now is seeing victory right around the corner (literally). To combat something which I felt in my heart to be a form of idolatry, I sought medical advice but not after struggling spiritually with this decision for over a half a year. But I finally felt it in my heart that I was making the right decision because when all said and done, I am half way through the meds (which have made me violently nauseous throughout these last six weeks and with five more weeks to go) and through the Lord’s continuous strength and guidance, I refuse to quit now. I almost threw in the towel as they say around the middle of week four but as I prayed that morning I felt stronger than ever in my convictions. I’m out of shape physically which frustrates the mental which in turn plays with the emotions. These things are all Satan’s way of convincing me of whom I was before Christ came into my life and re-newed all that is good. well, my spiritual life is ahead of all the physical and I have come, if you will, to the top of the mountain, gotten over a major battle and now although the battle is still to be fought for the next five weeks, the Lord is in front of me, encouraging me and I will be victorious for Him.
I’v fought one major battle already and won because it brought me back to the Lord. Imagine what I will be able to accomplish for Him when i am through this one! And but by the grace of God go I.
Dear Heavenly Father I just bring JJ to You right now. Lord Jesus You see how see how she gets down and unhappy with her job, how she is so uncertain of its future, well I just pray that her job would be secure, that her boss would be much more positive about his work and tell JJ how much he appreciate her and all she does. Please be an encouragement to her, let her life be a light shining for You in all she says and does. I just pray that You will meet her every need and fill her full and overflowing with Your Joy! I just pray all these things in Your Name In Faith Believing, Amen & Amen! Hugs, Linda !!!
I struggle often with my job, being unhappy with it and not knowing if I will even have it in a few months. I got real down on Monday and then I got motivated on Tuesday and then my boss kept talking about how this economy is going to ruin us. That night I made my mind up that Satan was talking and I don’t need to listen to him. My boss is all doom and gloom and I just need to let God handle the situation. I have been much happier the rest of the week and I will just let God take care of the rest. He will set us free!!!