‘Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. ‘ Luke 10:1(NLT)
‘I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”’ John 16:33(NLT)
‘But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. ‘ 2 Corinthians 2:14(NLT)
‘A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ‘ Ephesians 6:10-11(NLT)
‘But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.’ 1 Peter 2:9(NLT)
‘Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.’ 1 Peter 4:13(NLT)
We’ve read the scriptures that say we are overcomers. We may know it. We may even believe it. But it’s just so hard to live it—to keep fighting. We are exhausted. Being a victim to impossible or trying circumstances is not fair. I am sorry, dear friend, for your hurts. Life is so hard, and yes, sometimes way harder for some than it is for others. Not only is our own fleshly nature fighting against our spirit nature, we have a very real, alive enemy who knows our past and our hurts and does everything he can to use them against us.
This may seem hard, but could you see your pain and hard circumstances as a purpose He allowed specifically for you to bring about His work? A privilege to… share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation…Victorious! As a victor!
He may have chosen the very pain and hardship you are living (not caused it, necessarily, but allowed) for a specific plan in mind for you. Read that again…you were chosen for this!
This broken, sick world is allowed to run rampant BECAUSE of a loving Father who gave free will. We could fall victim to many of the circumstances that free will creates. Ultimately, living as victim or victor, a shattered life, or a grace-filled life, comes down to choice. We have to daily, sometimes each moment, choose to wear the victor’s crown, often setting aside the life we think we should have for the life that He has gently orchestrated for us.
He’s a loving Father Who cares for us too deeply to let us have an easy life. He allows us to live a fighter’s life so that we will appreciate our victorship status, and boldly wear the crown.
Today in your prayer time with Him, ask how He can use your pain and shattering for a purpose. Begin to dream and plan what your life could look like if you stripped the chains of victimization and lived freely as a victor, even if none of the hard circumstances get better or change.
Write boldly on a note card and put it where you will see it often: I AM A VICTOR THROUGH HIM.
Thank you, fellow victors, for joining me in this plan. Welcome to The Victory Club! I claim that label proudly and proclaim it over each of you who read this.
from A Shattered Life: Victor Vs. Victim by Erin Simms