Claim the Victory

"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4 (NIV)

"Oh, victory in Jesus, My Savior forever. He sought me and He bought me, with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood." I love the words to this hymn. There IS victory in Jesus. By believing in Him and accepting Him into my heart as my Lord and Savior, being born-again into His kingdom, I will overcome the world. What a comfort that is - to know that no matter what adversity I face in this world, I can overcome it by having faith in my Lord. And that, when I die or meet Jesus in the Rapture, the world will never bother me again.

It's so easy to focus on our troubles, isn't it? They're here and now. We are facing them and they scare us. God, Jesus, Heaven and the rewards we have waiting for us....they seem so far into the future, don't they? It's hard to focus on what God wants for us, to have the patience to wait for His timing and His plan for our lives, to claim the victory over the devil and the world. But that's exactly what we He intends for us to do.

Have faith, believe, trust, be thankful, have patience...these topics seem to be the focus of every Bible passage God is leading me to of late. He knows how weak my faith really is. He strengthens my faith through His Word, each and every day. He wants me to claim the victory that is rightfully mine as a child of God. The victory that He provided for me by the shedding of the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. What is holding me back from that victory? Fear? Pride? Selfishness? Disbelief? Anger? Impatience? All of the above? More? What is holding you back?

I need to claim the victory over my troubles. I want to claim the victory over them. God loves me. He proved that by sending His only Beloved Son to die for me. Jesus loves me. He proved that by taking on the burden of my sin, suffering anguish and pain, and dying on the cross so that I wouldn't have to spend eternity in hell. Then VICTORY!! - He rose on the third day, overcoming death, overcoming sin, overcoming Satan, overcoming the world!! My troubles are nothing compared to what God can do.

I AM CLAIMING THE VICTORY TODAY! I will rely on His strength, His courage, His love and His promises. There is nothing this world can throw in my path that God cannot overcome. I believe and I will receive...victory is mine!

"If you think you can win, you can. Faith is necessary to victory." - William Hazlitt

Precious Jesus, I claim the victory today! No matter what disappointments, trials, troubles or sorrows cross my path, I know You can overcome them. The world and it's hardships are nothing compared to You. I place my trust in Your promises, Your timing and Your plan for me. In Your name I claim the victory, Amen.