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.

Persevere AND Stand Firm

Persevere and Stand Firm

That almost sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it.  How can you persevere while you're standing firm?  Persevere sounds like an "action" verb, while Stand Firm seems like a "motionless" verb and adverb.

In this photo is a little desk plaque that Mom gave me for Christmas.  She said, "I saw it and I just knew I had to get it for you."  The words on it are "STAND FIRM....Be strong and immovable, always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."  1 Corinthians 15:58.  When I received it, I'll admit I thought "Uh oh, Lord, what is it that I'm going to need those words for this year?   Also, in the photo is the rock that I picked last week that underneath it was the word "perseverance".  That's a double word exhortation for me.  Stand firm and persevere.

Wednesday night, for my Life Group, I had the candle (the light of Christ), the Bible opened to that 1 Corinthians 15:58 verse, the Stand Firm plaque and the rock as the centerpiece to our table.  I knew there was a message God was conveying to us.  Each of us, in our own lives, are dealing with stuff -- circumstances, people, situations, challenges and decisions to be made.  It's enough to give us the jitters.

This scripture gives us a step-by-step way to handle our anxieties and our impatience.

STAND FIRM -- tells us to not be moving around so much.  Ever been around someone who just had crazy nervous energy going on?  They drum their fingers on a table or swing and tap their feet.  They are in constant motion. Honestly, it can drive us loony just being in their presence.  I've literally had to shut my eyes to keep from getting myself nervous, too.

"Stand firm" means "be stable," "be steadfast."   Unmoveable, means to hold a position of "heels dug in" with bulldog tenacity.  Bulldogs never quit.  If they get hold of your leg, they won't let go.  They are known for their tenacious spirit.  They are actually bred to be tenacious.

We may not know what is up ahead for us in this new year.  But, I intend to remember to persevere "enthusiastically" in whatever God calls me to -- especially in the work I do for Him, and STAND FIRM in my trust in His unwavering love for me that assures me that everything is gonna' be alright and "in due season I will reap, if I don't faint.....while standing firm".  Father knows best and His promises are true.  I'm going to STAND, and when I've done all to stand....I'm going to keep on standing.  I won't give up, until I'm taken up.   How about you?

The next time we find our courage tested to the limit, let's remember that God is as near as our next breath, and He offers strength and comfort to His children. He is our shield and our strength; He is our protector and our deliverer. Whatever our challenge, whatever our trouble, God can help us persevere. And that’s precisely what He’ll do if we ask Him.  Our job is to keep persevering until He does.

I'm thinking that I'll start introducing myself this way:  “Hi, my name is Donna, but you can call me Bulldog!”