VICTOR NOT VICTIM

baring my soul in my last post and expressing my tumult of emotions certainly helped to alleviate some of the internal pressure i've been bottling up. after all, i find writing a very cathartic and therapeutic process. yet, without a doubt, i know that the only way that any of my distresses, anger, frustrations and fears can truly be expelled from the every cell of my body they pervade, is by turning to God.


the day after writing just keep swimming, i picked up my all time favorite devotional book and read the entry for that day. (the book is called, "31 days of praise" by ruth myers). while one must be careful not to take biblical passages out of context, i do believe that God gives us what we need when we need it. this was certainly no different. it was exactly what i needed to be reminded of - and that is that in Christ, i can live from a position of victory and not victim.


here's what i read in it's entirety:


Father, i praise you that Jesus is a victor over satan and all his evil powers - that He triumphed over them through the cross and resurrection, and that You have highly exalted Him. You have given Him a position infinitely superior to all other powers and authorities...a name that stands far above all other names that will ever be used, and - amazing grace - you have raised me up and enthroned me with Him in the heavely realms.


how i praise You that i need not strive toward a possible victory, but can live from a position of victory already won - that He who is in me (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is greater than he who is in the world...that although satan is powerful, he cannot prevail against the blood of the lamb and the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. thank you that satan must retreat before the name and before Your word, the living and powerful sword of the spirit, and that in the end he will be cast down into everlasting defeat and shame.


what a joy to know that You are the same today as You were centuries ago in isaiah's day, when You promised to rescue your people in a hopeless looking situation, when the enemy seemed to have prevailed. how i love the words You spoke to them:


"those who hopefully wait for me will not be put to shame...even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tryrant will be rescued; for i will contend with the one who contends with you, and i will save your sons."


i praise you that i can count on you to do this in our spiritual warfare, and that through you we shall do valiantly, for you will trample down our enemies.


can i get an amen?!




scipture references:
1) col 2:15; eph 1:19-21; phil 2:9-10; eph 2:6
2) 1john 4:4; rev 12:11; acts 16:18; eph 6:17; rev 20:10
3) isa 49:23-25; psa 108:13