Living Victoriously
“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, He brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 (MSG)
Do you live your life fighting for victory or fighting from victory? If you are fighting for victory, you’ll find yourself striving, feeling overwhelmed against impossible odds, and defeated. When you’re fighting from victory, you have the confident assurance that God is in control, the battle is in His hands, and the victory has already been won! This is the message Paul is giving us in 2 Corinthians 2:14 when he shares his own insight into living his life from victory. It must have been like an Aha! moment for him. He says, “I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 (MSG)
When the realization dawns on you that Jesus is your victory, it will be an Aha! moment for you as well! No longer will you fight for victory over sin, self, and Satan. You will live in the abundant joy of knowing that you have the victory in Christ, your Messiah! This is the secret to living victoriously!
One of the great deceptions of the devil is concealing the fact that he has already been defeated! Our battle against sin and temptation has already been won! Jesus conquered sin and Satan at the cross! In Colossians, Paul explains it like this: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross.” Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT)
Through His death on the cross and the power of His risen life, our sins are not only forgiven, but we have been given victory over sin and Satan! We still live in a fallen world. The enemy is relentless in his efforts to deceive us and tempt us. We don’t have to fight for victory. We fight from victory! In 1 Corinthians 15:57, Paul declares, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
You can’t earn or win the victory in your life, no matter how hard you fight! Why? Because the victory is given to you and me in Christ! Receive it and say thanks! Whatever battle you’re facing today, fight from victory!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.