Keys to Winning

 

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.  This is how we know that  we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  This is love for God: to obey his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."  I John 5:1-4

 

Victory.  We hear it chanted at every ball game. People work  months or even years, honing their skills so that they can be the victor in a sporting event.  Winning is something we all strive for.  It is just plain more fun to win at something than to lose!

 

Winning at life is a lot like winning a ball game.  There are days we succeed, others we fail, but we work toward a winning average.  If you do not feel any  victory in your day to day life, you need to be reminded of today's verse!  The first key to winning is to be born of God.  No matter how talented, great or powerful you are, you are not stronger than your enemy.  But when you receive Christ as Savior, and ask him into your heart, your positionally transferred from being on the losing side to being on the winning side.  Jesus overcame the world, and as a born again child of God,  you are a part of the body of Christ!  Success is in your new, super-charged spiritual DNA.  He overcome all that could ever defeat us- sin; sickness; bondage and death.  All of that was defeated by his completed work at Calvary.  Because he made an "open  show" of defeating the enemy, he is qualified to make us victorious over these things as well.

 

 

The second key to victory is your faith.  We have to believe what the Bible says about us.  What it says we can have, what we can do, and what we can become.  We have to reach out by faith and receive it in the Spirit.  All that you need, Christ purchased for you.  It is available, just reach out and accept it today in Jesus' Name.  If you are lacking faith, begin to study your Word and pray.  Allow your faith muscle to be exercised and you will begin to enjoy greater levels of victory in your everyday life.

 

A final key to victory is to understand your relationship with the world.  We are in the world, but not of the world.  We live here, but we cannot let culture dictate our direction.   Rather, we have to be a counter-culture for Christ!  You cannot both play with the world and overcome it.

 

Need more victory in your life?  Exercise your faith and enjoy the benefits!

 

 

Dear Lord, help me  to overcome any bondages to this world.  Enable to walk in increasing  levels of victory.   In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Sherri

 

 

 

Trouble in the World

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

 

When you read this verse, don’t you find yourself nodding in agreement?  Yep, in this world I have trouble.  Lots of it.  Too much of it.  We all do. Trouble seems to be part and parcel for this world.  I know every generation has experienced sickness, disease, heartache, loss, stress and lack.  But it seems to me that the times are becoming more and more perilous.  I believe this will continue to be the case, and increasingly so, until the Lord returns.  This world is gearing up for the soon return of Christ to collect His people unto himself.

Times are hard and appear to be getting harder.  Where is the hope in that?  This verse supplies much of the hope we need.  In Him you may have peace.  In the world there is trouble; in Christ there is peace!  Oh, that I should remain in Christ!  I am not saying that Christians will never experience problems or trouble, but I believe this verse promises that when we face stuff, if we can not get in the flesh, but rather, stay in Him, we can enjoy peace despite what goes on around us.

Take heart!  Look up!  Believe for good things.  He has overcome the world.  In the world is trouble, but he has overcome the world.  Would that not lead you to believe that he has overcome trouble as well?  He has overcome everything and put it under His feet when he defeated Satan at Calvary.  We still have battles to fight, issues to address and life to live as long as we are on this earth.  But our hope, our victory, and our peace can be found and experienced in Him, who has overcome every problem we now face.

I do not know what challenges you face today. Perhaps you are dealing with family issues, financial issues, work stress or health problems.  These very real problems are a real nuisance and if we let them be, they are peace-stealers as well.  I do not wish to in any way minimize the seriousness of your situation.  But I do want to offer you encouragement today that you are not facing a problem that Jesus did not deal with himself while he lived on earth.  He knows your pain.  He sees how you struggle.  He cares and He loves you.  He has made provision for you so that you can experience peace in him.  Therefore, we can take heart.  He has indeed overcome the world.

Dear Lord, I pray for my friends today and ask that you manifest yourself and your peace to them in a personal way.  Bring comfort and encouragement, and renew hope.  Thank you for overcoming everything so that we may have victory in you.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

Sherri