Victory247

“Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves ME… I will love him and show Myself to him”  John 14:21 (NIV)

Our goal isn’t just “sin management“. We shouldn’t be walking around just figuring out ways to avoid sin. Those wrongful actions, thoughts, and words will happened. We then confess and start over. That is what we should do, but that can’t be our focus.

An athlete can enter a game with the attitude of not making a mistake, but they won’t score. A salesman can work all week trying not to be forward or offensive, but he won’t make many sales. A student can go to school and not talk at all. They won’t get a detention, but they won’t make friends with peers or teachers.

Our goal in all these cases should be to learn how to be more effective as we strive to get better. Not sit in a bunker hoping to not mess up anything.

God wants us to learn from Him, “have His commands“. Attempt to do what is right, “obey them“. He wants us to set our focus on living an exciting life while attempting to grow and develop. Taking some chances. Striving to reach the potential that God can fuel us to be and do.

If we do this, He promises to “show Himself ” to us. Our efforts need to go toward knowing Him. Then true fulfillment happens. Sin just gets in the way of that goal. Merely confess and move on to great achievements!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I want You to be real to me. Help me to focus on knowing You, doing right, and helping others, so that my heart’s eye can see You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“It is not those who just hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” Romans 2:13 (NIV)

Paul is basically writing to plead with the readers to not just read God’s laws, Words, and principles. But, follow what it is saying. It’s for our own protection!

I was on one of those medications that have to be taken for ten days. I read the warning on the side of the little bottle, “avoid direct sunlight while taking this medication”. It even has a picture of a small sun beside the warning.

Well, for nine days I was following that “law”, and was feeling pretty good. On day ten I choose to spend some quality time with my youngest son. We spent the afternoon outside together, in the sun.

I was feeling fine all afternoon enjoying something fathers need to do (we are all so good at justifying our actions).

The next morning I woke up to a splitting headache, and extremely tired body. I can just imagine the doctor who is responsible for those warnings, watching me outside in the sun, saying, “what is this idiot thinking? I tried to protect him. I even had an artist put a little picture of the sun beside my advice.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I don’t want to settle with just knowing and reading about You. Help me to follow it so that You can protect and provide for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“He forgave us ALL our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross”  Colossians2:13-14 (NIV)

Ever want to just start over? Ever go through a day filled with poor choices, bad thinking, or missed opportunities?

Have you ever said some things that you regret? Like comedian Brian Regan talking about saying something he regrets, even as he is saying it, is like releasing a flock of doves that there is no way to corral and bring back. “Oh no, what did I just say?!”

We need to admit it to God, confess it to those we offend, then realize that wrongful words, thoughts, and actions have been NAILED to the cross. Know that we are forgiven, and start over.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I know You understand that I make mistakes and poor choices at times. Thank You that You allow me to keep starting over. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”  Matthew 6:13 (NIV)

In the sample prayer that Jesus is giving us, He realizes that we will be in a battle against sin; wrongful actions, words, or thoughts. We need to be convinced that sin damages us.

A saying that has helped me is that “if you are trying avoid sin, stay out of sin’s orchard”. Don’t put yourself in a candy store if eating sweets is a problem. Don’t turn on the computer or TV late at night if lust is a problem. Don’t bring up ‘juicy’ topics with certain people if gossip can grip you.

If you feel your flesh telling you that it’s okay, “everyone else is doing it”, be convinced that sin is NEVER worth it! Then pray to God to ‘deliver’ you with the strength to move past it.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to fight the battles with sin. I need your strength. When I fail, remind me to confess and start over quickly. Thank You for the joy and fulfillment that will follow because I choose to enter this fight. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”   Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

The word ‘meek’ was used to depict the Roman horse. These horses were big with rippling muscles. They had the power and girth to trample and reek serious havoc if they were to run wild amongst the village. But they were very tame and obedient to the rider.

The common feeling we get from hearing the word ‘meek’ is a timid, feeble being that cowers into a corner. But Jesus was referring to the Roman horse, massive strength that is under control.

Most of us go through times when our lives seem to be spinning out of control. We get too busy and too overwhelmed with responsibilities. As we try to control our tail spin, something side tracks or side swipes us. We scramble to get organized, but we realize we need to take time to sleep and eat. Friends, spouses, children, family get neglected, which creates even more spinning.

The last thing we think we have time to do is the first thing that we need to do. Meet with God. Give Him our concerns, struggles, and time management. Stop the bleeding by sitting at His feet with requests and pleas of dependence. Then whisper prayers throughout the day.

As we depend on God and His Holy Spirit for our daily strength and character, we have massive power to stop the frantic tail spin, live life well, and even have time left over to help others.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to depend on You moment by moment, so that You can instill meekness into me; controlled strength. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense”  Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

We have heard the saying, “expect the unexpected”. That can be good, but I would like to also suggest that we “expect the expected”.

Sports coaches, players, and fans should expect that the refs will make at least a few bad calls. Spouses can’t be surprised when (not “if”) something is said that is hurtful. Parents shouldn’t go into shock when their teenager does something stupid. Friends need to be aware that they will get offended by selfishness. Teachers can’t be taken back when a student turns on them…

The key is to have a plan. There are times we need to let an offense slide by. There are times that offenses need to be addressed. But if we are ready (expecting, praying in advance and right after), our reactions to offenses can be much more productive. Offenses can actually help us develop our personal character and our “patience muscle”.

We need to watch our reactions this week. Reactions are good indicators on how we are doing. It is worth it to use these hurtful moments to allow God to grow our character and patience. How we approach this can be a relationship builder, or a relationship killer.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give me Your strength to handle offenses. Use them to develop me. Prepare me to expect the expected, and to tap into You for my reactions. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”  Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

It’s amazing how every person is unique. Today’s verse says that God created us with a certain body, pattern of thinking, emotional wiring, skills, and talents.

Our culture tries to convince us that we start reaching our full potential as a human if we make a lot of money, or perform as a top athlete. I personally know men who have a terrible quality of life, have few friends, offensive, and grumpy, but they still are convinced that they are better than someone who makes less money. They have learned how to make a wealthy living, but don’t know how to live. Both are possible, but not essential for a full life.

I once coached a 7th grade basketball team. Tryouts were taking place to pick the top 12 players. The other 14 kids who got cut felt like they were losers. Their esteem was shaken. Value is placed on athletic skill. I know that several of those “cut” young men are quality individuals, but feel less of a person then those who made the team.

It seems unfair, but there is only room for so many players. The blessing is that those “cut” guys can now have more time to find a niche in life that better fits them. Actually, making the team could stunt their growth.

We do the same thing. Failure can be God’s way of humbling us and redirecting us. One person defined success as; “going from failure to failure and not losing your enthusiasm”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, don’t let my culture define my value and worth. You see me as valuable. Help me to see through Your eyes what and who You want me to be. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“There was a rich man who lived in luxury. At his gate was a poor man named Lazarus who died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side (Heaven). The rich man also died. In Hell he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ Abraham replied, “between us and you is a great chasm, so that those who want to go across cannot. He answered, ‘Then I beg you to send Lazarus to my family to warn them of this place of torment.’”  Luke 16:19-28 

Jesus is telling a story about two men who died. I think one was rich and one was poor to illustrate that what we have in this lifetime doesn’t compare to what we have in eternity. I know He wasn’t condemning wealth and condoning poverty. He just used that to help drive home the point.

I was watching a show called “Beyond Scared Straight”. They take kids who are on the road to going to prison someday. The program starts out showing these kids thinking that going to prison wasn’t that big of a deal, so they didn’t care that their reckless behavior of fighting, stealing, drugs, and truancy could lead to the State Penn.

These kids are taken to an actual prison. They go through the whole process, and get “talked to” by the inmates and employees. During the course of the show you can see the kids go from cocky to completely intimidated and afraid. At the end of the show they give footage of the kids back home with a whole new outlook on life. They started going to school again, staying out of trouble, and one kid even used his artistic graffiti abilities for the good.

If God, Jesus and heaven are real, then hell is real. Thinking about hell at times can actually give us a better perspective on our lives and how we use our time. If you are unsure of your eternal destiny, read “Start the Victory” atop victory247.org. If you are concerned for another, show it to them. It could change a life and an eternity for someone.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for rescuing me from a horrible torment. Use me to lead others to Your gift of heaven. Make my life a blessing. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”    Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

When I was a kid I remember this verse being called the “Golden Rule”. It almost became just a trite saying. It wasn’t until I got older that I put thought and effort into applying this to daily life.

When dealing with others we need to ask, “how would I want to be handled?”, “how would I want to be talked to?”…we basically need to put ourselves into their shoes. Try to look at our interactions through their eyes. It’s being ‘others-oriented’ instead of  ‘self-oriented’.

When we walk into a room, are we thinking; “Here I am everyone”. Or; “There you are”.

The more we ask for God’s strength and strive to be ‘others-oriented’, the more He can invade, effect and impact our lives. He will keep blessing us so that we can bless others. Or we could even say that if we bless others, He will bless us (what came first, the chicken or the egg?).

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, give me the strength and faith to be ‘others-oriented’. Renew my thinking as I interact with people. Remind me to put on their shoes. Thank You for the blessings that will follow. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped” Psalm 28:7 (NASB)

When I think of a ‘shield’, my mind wanders back to my youth watching great battle scenes with knights, lances, big swords, and whatever that ball with spikes attached to a swinging chain is called. The ‘shield’ was protection.

Occasionally, I come across a particular scenario that I find very humorous. An adult man holding a woman’s purse for her. “Awkward!”. He has to make sure that he grasps it like he doesn’t really care about the purse, the loaf of bread hold is my favorite.

She is basically saying, “You are someone I can completely trust to protect this bag of valuable stuff. She knows he will be a shield to all snatchers and thieves.

We all need a shield of protection with our insecurities, self-worth, frustrations, secret fears, and hurts. God wants us to hand Him our “purse of stuff”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, help me to open up to You and continually hand You my “valuable stuff”. I know You are always there to be my help. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.