I was 23 years old in the Spring of 1997. I had big hair… and bangs. Oh dear. Lots of bangs. And big dreams. I had lots of those too. College graduation was on the horizon and wedding plans were in the mix, and if there was ever a time I looked at the world through rose colored glasses, this was it. Oh, there had been distractions, detours, and delays leading up to this day, to be sure. But so many of my directional challenges and “what next” questions were finally being answered, and my days were filled with positivity and excitement as I prepared to launch into life’s next big season.
It sort of felt like I had “arrived” to the edge of my own little Promised Land, if you know what I mean.
But if I could have spied into the landscape ahead, I would have spotted more giants lying in the waiting.
Life’s like that, isn’t it?
As much as we hope for our “arrival” in this world, it never comes. There are constant ebbs and flows, ups and downs, the transitioning of seasons… and there will always be some kind of battle to fight – either internal or external – until we see Jesus face to face. Like the Israelites, we often give in to sinful distractions and detours, our emotions respond to the extremities, and we get so entrenched in and overwhelmed by the giants that surround us that we forget to claim all that God has already given us in Christ Jesus in the here and now.
But in Joshua Chapter 2, the Israelite spies take the victory stance:
And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” – Joshua 2:24
They were standing on the edge, knowing they were about to enter the battle of their lives. But they made a choice. They claimed VICTORY in the Lord BEFORE the battle had even begun.
Are you ready for this game changer?
As a child of the living God – the chosen and adopted daughter of the One who has all authority in heaven and on Earth – you can decide right now that you are going to be okay.
What if we don’t have to merely “survive” from trial to trial or from emotion to emotion.
What if we were proactive instead of reactive?
Confident instead of defeated.
Joy-filled instead of grumbling.
Prepared instead of petrified.
Expectant instead of exasperated.
How different could our lives look if we actually trained ourselves to remember, rehearse, and constantly reapply the truth of WHO GOD IS in every situation, so that we are consistently operating from a position of VICTORY instead of defeat.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4
That was the life verse that my husband and I chose during premarital counseling back in 1997, and little did we know how many times over the next twenty-two years we would need to preach those words back to our battle-worn hearts:
His divine power has given us everything we need…
Everything for life, yes… but also everything we need to come out of the fire looking more like Him.
Through our knowledge of Him.
He’s a good, good Father. We must get into the Word and remember who He is and what He has already done.
He has given us His very great and precious promises.
Let’s start calling out and standing on His promises like we mean business (if you need a few reminders, this study is a good place to start).
Today, what if we lived like we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us… because that’s who we are (Romans 8:37)?
So let’s do this, ladies.
Chins up.
Armor on.
Feet forward.
Victory cries ready.
With the power of God behind us, let’s live like overcomers today.
At His feet,
*Let’s talk: What’s one truth from God’s Word that you can apply to your battle today? Let’s encourage each other in the comments!
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Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” – 2 Peter 1:3-4
T.H.I.S.!! I’m camping here in regards to life in general. But especially right now in my marriage to a man with Autism Spectrum Disorder. My focus on our extreme differences in social/emotional behaviors, gets me so self centered/focused/selfish that I lose my testimony of what Christ has done in and for me. And now THROUGH me!!
NO more Satan! I STILL have my 1st Love! His name is JESUS!!! And THRU Him, I am victorious over this present stage and age!!!
Kathy,
Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your inspiring journey! Know that you are being lifted in prayer and supported. God Bless You!
That God’s plans for me are “for good and not for evil, for a hope and a future” and He has ALWAYS known those plans for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Heather,
That is one of my favorite verses in The Bible! Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your message with others. God Bless You!
Yesterday was a “down” day for me. I have MS and though, thankfully still quite mobile, my legs were very fatigued and physically the days requirements were a struggle. Then I get to “thinking” (uh-oh), what is the plan for my life, how can I serve God if I am housebound, wheelchair bound, fatigued … having a “pity party” and letting fear win! During the night I woke and while resettling a verse started playing over and over in my head “for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm…”. I thought “wow” and promptly went back to sleep. (amazing in itself to resettle so quickly). This morning, remembering this I thought I have to find that verse… obviously I did and like Heather, above, it comes from Jeremiah 29:11 ?. Is that God speaking?
Then I open up your blog and the title of today’s study is Live like an Overcomer. The verses from 2 Peter1:3-4 resonate so strongly – His divine power has given me everything I need for a godly life and His great and precious promises allow me to participate in the divine nature. So… I’d still like a “god-given list” of how he wants to use me and exactly “what” He wants me to do so I feel I’m living a specific purpose ?, however, I will have faith and rely on his promises that he has it all under control with his plans for me for a hope and a future.
Cate,
So glad to have you joining us and sharing your story today. Yes, that is ALL GOD, sweet friend! He knows when we need Him most and is always there to reassure and lift is up. Keep those experiences and verses close to your heart, and continue to share with others any way you are able. Know we are praying for you and your health, and that God does have a plan for you, so keep believing and sharing your experiences. God Bless You!
Oh wow. Life transition. Taking the Promised Land… this has been a significant parallel in my life during this season of deliverance and GOD orchestrated transition that I have been facing and walking through. In the beginning of this season … GOD took me straight to the Promised Land account and I have been clinging to that as I have stepped out in obedience to HIS calling me out of my own Egypt. It has been a year and a half since this season of being called out of bondage began and I have tried so hard to continue to live from this place of VICTORY. However, it has become more challenging to stay in that place. GOD has made BOLD promises to me and I am waiting on the edge for HIM to work those out before me. Yesterday HE used many different situations to speak reminders to me about who HE is. From a perfectly timed encouraging phone call and conversation, a reminder about HIS making a way for us to have direct access to HIM in ANY GIVEN MOMENT, a time of reflection on just how faithful HE has always been, a reminder to trust HIM even when I could be anxious, and then in my Wednesday night Bible study… HE reminds me that HE has always been everything to me… and given me all that I need… HE is not about to stop. If all that wasn’t enough… I wake up this morning to an unusual notification that caused this day of your study to pop up in my notifications… brought me straight here… HE wanted to reiterate ALL of this to me AGAIN! TO confirm HE is speaking. I have never gotten a notification like this before that led me to a post like this… I am beyond amazed at the awe and wonder that HE inspires in me… continually. This whole day of devotional reading speaks EXACTLY what HE has been telling me for the past few days… HE knows exactly what I need and when and HE has always been faithful, and HE wants me to live in that place of victory as though the promise that HE has clearly made is already fulfilled. This was part of my perfectly timed conversation yesterday and now HE has brought me here. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…”
The Promised Land awaits. Onward.
LORD, Thank You for deliverance, provision, constant reminders of Your presence, for being my everything, and for giving me everything I need.
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Isaiah 40:31
Thank you for sharing these words. Through them, HE is renewing my strength! ❤
Wow Traci! That was an amazing testimony. You have inspired me. I am just getting back into bible study here at LGG. Its been a little over a year and oh have I missed it! I just wanted to say thank you and that God is renewing my strength also! He is a truly awesome God! Amen.
I started this study on time and then got distracted and overwhelmed with life and I just picked this up today, and I am in tears over His faithfulness. The battles that I have been entrenched in and surrounded by have left me feeling weak and defeated, it’s like I forgot who I was and what was mine. And here comes this Word, this beautiful study, that wasn’t on the right day and I am late to, but here it is exactly what I needed. Reminding me of exactly who I am and that victory is mine. My heart is truly bursting, and for the first time in weeks I feel hope, comfort, and renewed strength because of His Word.
I want to walk in victory regardless of the circumstances around me..I agree we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus through Him who loved us. Roman’s 8:37
23 years so far I’ve lived the Christian life and have never turned back. Delivered from homosexuality, now married 16 years with three kids (one in heaven) I can say with confidence friends I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus who loves me!!! God bless the living Word in your lives. I know it is still changing my life!
I’m having trouble applying the soap method to these verses. I’m doing Thursdays one now and the comments don’t work but weds was odd too. Some examples would be good as I feel I’m missing something