Will we CHOOSE to BE Victorious or REMAIN Victims?
What a difference it makes in our lives as Christians when we finally realize and understand that we have to CHOOSE to be victorious or that by default we will remain victims. In fact, as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, without VERY intentionally and deliberately choosing to be victorious, we will most assuredly remain helpless and hopeless victims of our unfortunate circumstances. But when we choose to stand on the power and promise of God’s Word, WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS; just as Romans 8:28 32 says:
…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
By reading the above passage of scripture, we should understand the power and promise it holds, but the truth is that few really do, because it’s not reflected in the way we live our daily lives. For some reason, we just don’t grasp the importance of REALLY BELIEVING God’s Word and that we can stand on its power and promise, or that when we do, we CANAND WILL walk in victory through God’s provision and protection. But when we don’t believe God and when we don’t put our faith and confidence in the power and promise of His Word, completely relying on His ability and faithfulness to provide for our every need and to protect us in every circumstance, we are destined to remain victims of our circumstances and we risk being left to wander around in the wilderness and desolation of separation and divorce for the rest of our lives. One of the most powerful passages of scripture that really helps us understand the nature and character of God and how He works in our lives and in response to our attitudes and the words we speak, be they good or bad, is found in Numbers 13:26-14:45. So it’s very important to read and carefully study this passage to learn and understand how God reacted to the difference in the attitudes displayed by Joshua and Caleb and the others, and even how God responded when Moses reminded Him of the need to guard His own reputation and keep His Word! There’s so much to learn here if we would just apply the same principles to our own circumstances and attitudes as we stand against the world for the restoration of our marriages and families. All twelve men who went to explore the land saw and experienced the same thing, but oh what a difference in attitudes between the other ten men and that of Joshua and Caleb. And the reason they had such different attitudes was because they filtered what they saw and heard through the confidence and expectations they placed in the power and promise of their God; recognizing themselves as victorious and not victims! So instead of focusing on existing or potential problems, they focused on the power and promise of God’s Word, which led them to reap the victory of the Promised Land instead of reaping the destruction and disappointment experienced by the others. So we all have to choose whose report we’re going to believe; the lies Satan always tries to use to steal, kill and destroy, or the power and promise of God’s Word to save, restore and bless us, our spouses and our marriages and our families!
The choice IS ours to make. But one very important lesson it would NOT be wise to overlook from the above passage of scripture is how God responded to and dealt with the grumbling and complaining of the Israelites and nay sayers. And when we put Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV), which says Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (used by Joyce Meyer in her awesome TV message today), together with Luke 6:45, which says The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks., we see just how important our spoken words are and how accurately they reflect what is REALLY in our hearts. Studying how God responded to the negative attitudes and spoken words of the Israelites reveals that they literally kept them from realizing their dream of the Promised Land, and since we know that God changes not and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever, let’s hope that we all CHOOSE to follow the victorious example set for us by Joshua and Caleb, and not to follow in the footsteps of the “woe is me” victim mentality, grumbling and complaining, and fear mongering Israelites who NEVER made it out of the wilderness! But the choice IS ours to make. No one else can make it for us.
As usual, Joyce Meyer’s TV broadcast messages today and tomorrow are packed with a great deal of wise and valuable counsel for all of us as we stand for the restoration of our marriages, so be prepared to take notes as you watch What’s Been on Your Mind Lately? – Part 1 and What’s Been on Your Mind Lately? – Part 2. And as also very often happens, quite a few of the FAM Fellowship members will recognize God’s awesome confirmation of conversations we’ve had over the past couple of days on some of the very same topics; such as HOW to take every thought captive, how our thoughts lead to our emotions and actions, that through the power of the Holy Spirit we CAN exercise self control, and that we have to deny our flesh! So by carefully studying the above passages of scripture and by taking notes from Joyce’s messages, we’re bound to be blessed and encouraged as we CHOOSE to be victorious in Jesus Christ!