Victory in Jesus

2 Timothy 2:1-5  “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  3  Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  4  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer.  5  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”

Our personal victory comes in the enduring of hard times, and knowing that if we remain steadfast in our faith, that we will live and reign with Christ forever!  Listen to verses 11-13. ”Here is a trustworthy saying:  If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him.  If we disown him, he will also disown us: 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”  God will stay true to His promises, the good and not so good.  All he requires of us is faithfulness to His commands.  That is a comfort to me, but it is also a warning if I choose not to obey. 

I choose reigning with Him in heaven for eternity as my victory.  How about you?

 

I was dreaming?

I saw my hand and a rope.  I was trying to hold onto the rope, but my hand was at the end.  I could see the rope separating and starting to fray.  I was slipping, and the rope was giving away.  Then another hand envelops mine.  A worn and calloused hand.  A tanned and tattered hand.  A nail scarred hand.  It came from nowhere and covered my hand with a mighty strength, so powerful I could feel it.  Feel the flesh on mine.  And I knew it was going to be OK.  When I can no longer hold on, He, Jesus, is here to help me.  He will carry the load, and let me hang freely while He nourishes my soul with His peace and love.  He will carry me until I regain the strength to hold on and fight for myself again.  Because He loves me so much.  Thank You Lord, for answering my prayers.  Thank You for showing me this, and sending me this security.  I will follow You.  I will praise You in the storm, because You are worth it.  Thank You for grabbing my hand, and teaching me. 

 

Powerful Life

I know I have talked about satan waging a war, and feeling his presence before, but why won’t he give me a break?  I am so angry with him right now!!  Yes, I am tired of fighting with you, but I will NEVER stop!  I rebuke you in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.  He is my everything!

There are times when I can feel him lurking..just waiting for the right moment.  And then there are times that he comes up on a sneak attack, when I am not ready or prepared.  See, I like to have plans, and the sneak attacks really mess with my plans.  But then he knows that, and he wants to drag me away from the One who truly loves me and protects me.  So I have been pondering that this week, and once again, Beth Moore has shown me the answer.  The past two days in her Breaking Free Day By Day devotional have been on prayer.  Yesterday was about how satan wants to see us do anything BUT pray.  He doesn’t even care if we study the bible all day long, because he knows we need prayer to understand what we are reading and the power to live.  So Pray! 

Today’s scripture was Colossians 4:2.  Devote yourselves to prayer:  stay alert in it with thanksgiving.  She said that discipline can fly out the window at times of temptation and weakness, we also don’t tend to think straight when we get a surprise attack, and that human nature is far too self-destructive to choose what is best at our weakest moments.  The last line today was this.  Prayer lets us walk in peace and victory enen when walking through a war zone.  You know I love that.  So today, spend a little more time talking to God! 

 

Praying God’s Word

Here you will find my devotional from Beth Moore.  This was from last week, but is still making an impression on me, and maybe it will you too. 

Blessed, merciful God, Your Word promises that those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

If I go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, I will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with me.  (Ps. 126:5-6)

Help me to see that the promise is not made to those who simply have tears but to those who are willing to sow seed in the midst of their tears.  Your Word tells us in Luke 8:11 that the seed is the Word.  If I’m willing to keep believing and sowing Your Word, even when I am desperately hurting, you will bring me forth from this difficult season with songs of joy.  Because of Your faithfulness, with joy I will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isa. 12:3)  Remember…GOD will give us VICTORY, but sometimes He will require every ounce of energy and cooperation we have in the process.