Being More Than a Conqueror

It’s taken me a lifetime to fully understand what it means and how to live the victorious life Jesus died to give us as believers. I remember my growing-up-spiritually years. I was a whiny kid and a less-than-confident teenager, a young wife and mother learning the ropes of responsibility. I was a good-doer attending church faithfully and really loved God with all my heart. But, I didn’t have a “conqueror” mindset. As I grew in my personal relationship with Christ, studying His Word and making every effort possible to serve Him wholeheartedly, I came to understand what it means to be “more than a conqueror”. Romans 8:37 says Christians are “more than conquerors” in this world. Maybe that's far from how you feel today, but in Christ, that's who we can be. We certainly need to get that indelibly imprinted on our hearts so that we get it, understand it and become it.

That verse is in response to the Apostle Paul's questions before saying we are “more than conquerors”: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). And, then he replies in Romans 8:37: “NO, in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through Him Who loved us.” Sounds to me like Paul could have been right here with us during our situations today. He tells us we can be more than conquerors in the midst of hardships and right in the middle of a trial. Paul certainly proved it is possible. Being more than a conqueror means whatever the enemy uses to take us out, he fails every time.

It means we stop naming ourselves “forgotten, loser, mess-up, mistreated, etc.” It means we persevere to the other side of the trial and wait, expectantly, for our new name, “more than a conqueror”. When we keep our old names, identifying with our old stories, we make the name-changing process about us. Yet this overcoming process is not about us; it’s about God revealing His name to the world.

When we fully understand that Jesus came to give each of us a life of abundance (John 10:10), then we'll see ourselves as more than a conqueror through Him. All the enemy wants to do is kill, steal and destroy what God wants us to have. He wants to diminish us – make us small-minded and small in spirit so we’ll live a small, frustrated life. Whatever your situation is today, God knows about it. He sees you and hears the cry of your heart. Welcome His overcoming love, grace and power. Live it. Own it. After all, you ARE more than a conqueror through Christ.

My Fear Doesn't Stand a Chance When I Stand in Your Love

My morning routine -- make my daily blog post, check emails, scroll through my social media, encourage and pray for those who reflect they need “team” support and prayer. A valiant, warrior mom’s post stopped me in my tracks yesterday.

This most amazing wife and mom has fought the good fight of faith for her precious son for many years. She is typically in full on battle mode as she keeps him comfortable, celebrates his victories (often a smile does that), dotes on him and does everything she can to help him thrive. But this day, she says (in an excerpt from her post): “Today was one of those days that I feel like I’m in a shoot for a movie that I never signed up for a role in. The doctor is talking...I know he’s looking at me and saying things that I’m supposed to remember but all I can feel is the storm. Three people all looking at me in a doctor’s office. Waiting. Waiting for me to make the call. I can’t even remember what the choices were. If that’s what you even want to call them.
Why do I have to make the choice? I’m not ready. What did you say? My husband isn’t here. Why? Why us? Why more? All the while looking around the room in a half daze like where are the cameras? There must be cameras here because this doesn’t happen in real life. Touché. Oh, how I wish this cup could pass us. I feel like I’m starting to lose hope. I feel like this war we have been faithfully waging will never be won. I’m tired of having bad days more than we have good days.”

Early this morning, I was hearing (in my head) Josh Baldwin’s song: “Stand in Your Love”. I thought about the lyrics when I read this friend’s post so I commented: “I know why I was thinking about this song this morning before I read your post. Sweet girl! You are such a valiant warrior and a most amazing mother to this precious little man! We continue to stand and when we've done all to stand -- we keep standing because we're standing in God's love! Listen to this song because I know it will minister to you! Love you so much!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2tMt0Ky6g

I don’t typically pass along someone’s post, but this day I sensed there are others who feel just like my friend. You’ve been given news that has jolted you. You are overcome with pressures and concerns about what today and tomorrow will hold for you and your loved one. You are ready to throw in the towel and give up. The strong faith you once had feels like it has drained entirely out of you. You, too, are ridden with starting to lose hope and you think the war you are waging will never be won.

I tell you what I told this sweet friend. STAND!!! Don’t give up! God is saying “Hold on, My child! Weeping lasts for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

I believe Josh Baldwin’s song lyrics are for you today, too:
When darkness tries to roll over my bones;
When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own;
When brokenness and pain is all I know;
Oh, I won't be shaken, no, I won't be shaken.

My fear doesn't stand a chance;
When I stand in Your love.

The good news is this sweet mama put her combat boots back on and she is standing strong another day – for a miracle. I love her Facebook banner. It says: “Expect a miracle. All things are possible.” And I speak that to you, too, mighty warriors! You and God have got this! You are an overcomer and are equipped for victory! Tough times don't last, but tough people, with God's help, do!

She Needed a Hero So She Became One

A dear friend who is going through some really tough times sent me a private message after I had said to her “You are your own hero -- you + God = courageous and strong, mighty woman of God!” She replied: Is that ok, to be your own hero?” The following helps explain my response to her:.

If ever we needed our sisterhood, we need it today. To have friends that encourage us, cry with us, rejoice with us and pray for us is worth more than silver and gold. I do that a lot on Facebook. When I see friends’ photos of their child’s wedding, I rejoice with them. I celebrate with my friends when they celebrate the accomplishments of their family – the school wins, graduations, awards, baby births, and anniversaries. I also love it when friends are bold enough to ask for prayer.

This photo says “She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!” I’m so proud of my friends and those women I don’t know, who aspire to be strong, resilient, determined, tenacious women and who say “I can do this. I can survive this. I am an overcomer. I am powerful – not because of my own abilities and my own self-talk – but I am powerful because the Greater One lives in me. (1 John 4:4) I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)”

I learned very quickly, after I became a widow, that I had a choice to make. I could whine and I could wallow in self-pity because I didn’t have my hero to lean on or give me advice on important decisions, or to repair something around the house. I could have thought “I need a hero to see after me!” If I stayed in that mindset, I would have never realized all I could do on my own. Now I know I am a woman of wisdom. I daily purpose to be powerful, passionate, positive, and, above all – peaceful. Rarely do I call out for help from anyone, but I also know my limitations. So when my daughter asked what I’d like for my birthday and since they live nearby, I was quick to say “Coupons for around-the-house jobs” (see photo). And, that's what they gave me. Yay!! I'll definitely use those coupons!

Honestly, there are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a hero again who I could go to for support and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, and boost me up with encouragement and compliments. But, I know I have God Who is more than enough. He is faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His love. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me daily with His Word.

Still, there are times when it's up to ME to set me free. It's up to me to apply the band-aids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "pitiful me" to "powerful me". It's up to me to do what King David did. "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or friend and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let me beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor, pick up my sword and raise it high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO. Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to BECOME ONE

It’s Time to Get Out FROM UNDER

Ever heard someone say this? “UNDER the circumstances, I’m making it”? Quite frankly, those dear souls in Southern Texas and Louisiana could get away with saying it and it's not just a saying for them -- it is literal! But in spite of anyone's circumstances, there are other options for declaring where we are and how we are. You’ve also probably heard someone say “I’m UNDER so much pressure with this project”. If that’s our response, in any case, it’s time for us to get out FROM UNDER.

In our early years of marriage, my relentless husband worked several jobs to help us make ends meet. He didn’t complain about working hard. It seemed the harder he worked, the more gratifying it was for him. I heard him often declare, “I perform better UNDER pressure.” And pressure is what came his way. Pressure to succeed; pressure to look the best and be the best and achieve the most. Stress and Pressure were holding his hand and they were taking him “UNDER”. Along the way, he had an “aha” moment and realized declaring “under pressure” was adding to the "pressure". I think one of the most significant moment in his life was that “aha” moment when he changed that thinking, talking AND living. His new mode of operation was "low profile, low pressure -- HIGH impact".

No longer should we be declaring “we are under…..”! We should be declaring “I am ABOVE and not beneath ANYTHING!” How is that possible? Deuteronomy 28:13 tells us how “The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be ABOVE, and you will not be UNDERNEATH..... IF YOU listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully.” THAT picture changed everything about the way my sweetheart saw himself. He no longer spoke “pressure” over himself. He started speaking freedom and overcoming pressure with common sense approach to life. “I don’t need the limelight. I don’t need or want the pressure that comes with it. I want to be highly effective and have high impact on others with my life and the choices I make.” It worked, because he did.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus was victorious over the enemy through His death on the cross. He was victorious OVER all the powers of darkness. Now we have the victory and the power to overcome because He lives in us. We never have to be "under” anything again.

The fact is…..we go OVER! “We OVERCOME by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” Revelations 12:11

1 John 4:4 “ Little children, you are from God and have OVERCOME them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Still living “under pressure” or “under the circumstances”? Here, take this shovel and get out from UNDER and rise to that place ABOVE it all! Be an OVER-COMER!

We Can Do This!

There's a lot of folks out there complaining about the weather, the economy, the government, their job, their co-workers, their spouses, their children or their neighbor. And, then there are folks who are always optimistic, "can-do", undaunted in their attitude to win, and whether the sun is out -- or hiding behind a cloud -- they always see it shining. They walk into a room and the sun comes in with them. When the worst of the worst happens -- the best of the best comes out of them. I'm just sayin' -- WE CAN DO THIS! We can be conquerors and overcomers and always see the glass FULL. You ask "HOW?" Let THE SON come into your heart -- then the GREATER ONE will live in you, and He will give you the confidence and strength to live above the fray....COME WHAT MAY!!
We really CAN be difference makers. Come on....WE CAN DO THIS!