Victorious Christian Living

What does a victorious Christian life look like?

We know we will have troubles in this life, but as a Christian, we should have a peace that the world doesn't when we go through these troubles.

What a victorious Christian life is not?

It is not trouble free.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

It is not having a lot of money. But rich or not, financial difficulties or not, the Saved have a Provider.

Psalms 37:25 – I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

And it is not success in any way that the world measures it.

1 John 2:15 – Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We all know Christians, though, that do have success by the world’s standards… successful careers, financial blessings. And we know Christians that have struggled with health issues, family issues. Why? I don’t know. In some cases, it’s just a case of reaping what you sow. Working hard and being wise with your money will usually bring financial benefits. Not taking care of your body will usually bring about health problems. But we all know that this doesn’t apply to everything. Some hard workers never know success. Some people are born with health issues. We may go through some of the things we do to bring about the relationship we or others need to have with God; or to keep us humble and reliant on Him; or to comfort others in similar situations. Again, I really don’t know and this is something to work out individually in our relationship with Him.

What impresses you most in fellow Christians? We have all known people in our Christian walk that have really stood out to us, that we have admired, that we have looked up to. What are some of the qualities you notice in those people? For me it is humility, forgiveness, love for others. Those are qualities not found in abundance in people who make everything about them. We all struggle with our self importance, our needs, our wants, our rights. But nothing, nothing is about us. It’s all about the One who Died for us.

We get caught up in our way… whether it’s not wanting to do a job God has called us to do, or disagreements with others because we need to be right. We can’t forgive others and harbor that unforgiveness in our hearts in spite of what we’ve been forgiven of. And often the closer someone is to us, the harder it is to forgive. That spouse/family member/friend you can’t forgive? Remember this: Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

AND

Mark 11: 25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses

So stop giving place to the devil and hindering your prayers and forgive. Don’t believe you are also capable of some pretty hard to forgive things? Ask God to show you.

What does a Victorious Christian Life look like to you? To me, its marked by blessings and peace. How do you receive blessings? First of all, don’t equate blessings with worldly or material standards. Second of all, LOOK for them. Stop taking all that God is giving you for granted.

But most importantly, do your part. What is your part? Obedience!!

Isaiah 1: 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

To be obedient means to submit to someone else’s will besides your own. To have peace you must have faith, which is the recognition that there is someone bigger than you to handle what needs to be handles. Everything points back to getting yourself out of the way, and make it all about Him. Matthew 6: 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Is this easy to do? Of course not. But I can tell you everything in my life that I screwed up came down to one simple thing: putting my will above His. And anything we put above Him, we are making our God. So just because you don’t formally worship another God, don’t think you are not breaking the first commandment.

How can we do such a hard thing such as putting Him above our own desires? Day by day. And the closer we get to Him (by spending more time with Him), I think, the more our love will be for Him. And the more we love Him, the more we will serve Him.

Remember, you need to be the clay and let Him be the potter.