Friday 7th July 2017

James 1:2-4, Psalm 144:1-2, Colossians 1:27, Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 10:3-4, 1 John 4:4

Suzie Brock calls us to become overcomers in life.

Suzie Brock

I recently read a Facebook post of a friend who shared a quote from American Pastor Tim Keller:

"It's remarkable that in all of his writings, Paul's prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances."

This made me think of how much time I have spent in my life praying and begging God to change my circumstances; not all of them of course, just the ones that I found challenging or uncomfortable.

Pondering this statement made me realise why in the Bible there are so many references to fighting, weapons, and standing firm. We aren't called to beg our way out of hard times. We are called to either make a stand against the enemy, conquer, or let the struggles have their perfect work in us.

'Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.' (James 1:2-4)

One of my all-time favourite passages is Psalm 144:1-2, 'Blessed be God, my mountain, who trains me to fight fair and well. He's the bedrock on which I stand, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight, the high crag where I run for dear life, while he lays my enemies low.'

I can't tell you how many times I have exuberantly handed out this scripture to women young and old who have found themselves in trials and tribulations! I love it because it is such a dichotomy. Wait Lord, are you telling me to fight? Who trains ME to fight? Or are you doing the fighting for me? He's the bedrock, my castle, my rescuing knight, high crag, while HE lays my enemies low.

Yes, it's both! It's us taking our place as children of the most high King, carrying with us all the authority He has given us, but at the same time humbly realising that He is our supreme conquer and deliverer!

We are not called to sit passively and let life's difficult circumstances bulldoze us over, or to spend our lives begging God to change them! Jesus said He came to give us life, rich, full and satisfying. He also said that in this world we would have troubles, but He has overcome them!

Well that's great for Jesus, but what about us? Christ IN ME the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)

It is Christ's presence in us that gives us the power for victory, obtained through His death and resurrection. We must take hold of that power! That power, Christ in us, gives us the supernatural ability to overcome even the most difficult situations.

But until we rise up and fight back against the attacks, physical, spiritual, or emotional, with the authority and weapons He has given us, we won't see victory!

It's time to make a stand, not just lie down and 'take it'!