Naturally, victories won by sheer force are rarely celebrated. What matters more is strategy and its effectiveness.

Yet isn’t it by force that we often try to win or overcome in life?

Knowing that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” (Romans 8:37) we often look at stuff in this world like we’re entitled to beat it out. We try to overcome by sheer force of will. We ignore problems to forge ahead, or push to be great so that we can do great things for God. But it’s never by these forces that we’re actually winning.

Acting impervious or refusing doubt, grief, and pain during difficult circumstances might make us feel like we’re actually winning at the holiness game and at life, but here’s the thing:

We’re often playing the wrong game because the stuff that matters is won by Christ.

Casting Crowns’ “All You’ve Ever Wanted” says:

“I was chasing healing when I’d been made well
I was fighting battles when You conquered hell
Living free but from a prison cell”

Familiar? We so easily forget that Christ already won the war. He goes before us in battles, too, and His will is perfect. Rather than being freed by our own efforts at making life “what it should be” or “overcoming,” our best option is to act like David or Gideon before battles: to pray and obey. If He says it isn’t worth fighting, let it go.

We do not need to be playing by the rules of this world, but by the rules of its maker.
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Though the saying goes “there are no rules in love or war,” there actually are. There are rules of logic, morality, sociological principles, patterns that must be followed, and natural consequences of actions.

For those that know this is His world, there are also rules natural to the Kingdom of God. Rules that defy much of what society suggests.

Look at Christ. He conquered death. He is King forevermore. Yet His strategies for battle were:

•  Humility
•  Obedience
•  Enduring suffering and temptation
•  Loving kindness
•  Peace

Of course, there were more. His example turned on everyone’s head the idea of conquering and overcoming.

Remember His triumphal entry?

His people long-awaited their savior, riding in on a white horse with an army and all glory and splendor. As it turned out, all glory and splendor, and all needed for conquering death, was a donkey. A young donkey, borrowed from someone else and the perfect God on top proclaiming peace among men instead of terror.

That’s winning in God’s Kingdom.

To fight the good fight of faith we must act in faith. We must be guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

Be ready for battle. Be armed with the weapons of God. Be trained in righteousness.

Be constant prayer, asking the greatest commander to offer His strategy of peace to rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15).

(A version of this post was previously published here.)

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Even when we let go, Christ our anchor’s hold is still strong. We’re still in His grip when we lose our own.
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Likewise, as we lean into the hard and heavy, forging our way along a difficult path, we’re often reaching out to see if God is there with us.

But He, in fact, goes before us, with us, and behind us.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” –Deuteronomy 31:8

“For the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” -Isaiah 52:12

If the Lord will never leave us, then indeed we are not alone. We are not forsaken by our anchor or abandoned by our guide along the unknown path. Our light will not go out nor will our protector fail to have the victory in the end.

It’s so easy to look upon the goodness and the kindness of the Lord in wonder, and miss that the things He kindly does for us are not dependent on us.

This isn’t an excuse to live flippantly or to believe that the Lord will reward us for taking advantage of His grace. But it certainly is a comfort, and a shift in perspective we often need when we feel like we just have to try harder or hold on tighter.

“Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

-2 Timothy 2:11-13

Amy Carmichael once described that when the going was rough, the trouble “was His burden not mine. It was He who was asking me to share it with Him, not I who was asking Him to share it with me.”

Sweet relief.

The nature of our God is compassionate. Loving. Hopeful. Gracious. Merciful. Kind. Stable. Steady.
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In all that you and I grasp at and cling to, just trying to hold on, we can know that we will not be abandoned or put to shame. We can be certain that we will never be lost, even when we lose hold.

We are held by one who does not let go, even when we do. Praise the Lord!

{A version of this post was originally published here}

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Every little thing adds up and sometimes the day just feels overwhelming.

Every little thing adds up and sometimes the day just feels overwhelming. @BethanyMcIlrath
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You too?

Here’s some hope from the only One who can take it all:

1. Today Isn’t Too Much

“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.”

–Deuteronomy 30:11

This is a verse I recite regularly, a truth we all need when it feels like everything is too much and too hard. The only things we really need to do are feasible. The only checks on our to-do list of eternal importance are attainable.

What is it the Lord has commanded today? To “turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.” That’s our whole necessary to-do list, and it’s not too much.

By the grace of God, it takes one moment of surrender to define the rest of our day. Just a simple priority on HIM above all else makes living a worthwhile day today right within reach.

By the grace of God, it takes one moment of surrender to define the rest of our day @BethanyMcIlrath
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2. Today Won’t be Too Little

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” –Psalm 90:12

In believing that the Lord works all things together for good, we also believe that God does not waste (Romans 8:28.) Numbering our days means adopting that same perspective. It means recognizing that each day, no matter how frustrating or tedious, has value according to the Lord…so today isn’t just another day. It’s a day fresh with God’s mercies and purposes.

3. Today is Enough

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34

If today has enough trouble of its own, then that means what’s at hand is enough to fill our whole capacity of concern. But read the verse that comes first, before that blessed “therefore.”

Seek ye first. Friends, if we are seeking Him first then despite the fact that today will have its troubles, we don’t have to worry at all. Because the troubles of today aren’t keeping us from seeking Him.

As I understand it, my shorthand for these verses is:

Enough trouble for today means enough reasons to seek and rely on God today.

Enough trouble for today means enough reasons to seek and rely on God today. @BethanyMcIlrath
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We don’t need extra reasons. What He’s asked for and will provide today will be sufficient for our needs.

No need to get ahead on your to-do list. No rush to fit everything in. There will be time if there needs to be, because everything has its time and season in the Lord’s order.

What verses give you a fresh perspective when you are overwhelmed?

<A version of this post originally appeared here.>

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What’s your fear factor?

Mine is the fear of the unknown in regards to my children’s future.  I have a friend who is very afraid of spiders, and another who is afraid of heights.  I also know someone who is afraid of being alone.

Fear is an emotion.  When it is in balance with our mind, body, and spirit, it is good and can be used in a healthy way to protect us from danger.

When it is out of balance, however, it can be paralyzing.

When the emotion of fear overwhelms us as individuals, it usually stems from not being able to control a certain aspect of our life, and/or fear of the unknown.

So, as Christians, how do we put fear in its’ place and balance this emotion so that we do not have to live in bondage to it?   God’s Word gives us some great answers!

Recognize daily that God is large in comparison to our fears:

Ephesians 3:14-21 – for this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Trust God and walk in courage through fear:

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him and He will direct your path.

Read the Story of Esther in the Bible:

Esther was a common woman who was obedient to God and walked in courage through her fears.  Because of this she saved her people.

Remember to claim the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in you:

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Read Psalms 91 out loud to yourself daily (here is portion of it):

This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
 Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.

(verses 2-7)

Acknowledge daily that God is in control. Daily bring your needs to Him and lay your burdens down at His feet to find peace and rest:

Philippians 4:6-8 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.   And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Finally, practice, practice, practice!!!

Philippians 4:9 –  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

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As I sit here today, I am experiencing adversity in a large way and needing the arms of Jesus to get me through.

I’ve tried in my own power to fix the situation at hand many times over and it’s just not working out the way that I thought that it would or should!  So, from my heart, God is sharing truth that I will now share with you and hopefully it will comfort us all and teach us His infinite wisdom that will take us through our adversity to the other side one day, where peace will prevail and panic will cease.

God tells me in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; Never will I  forsake you.”

That’s a great promise!   Never is without end!!!  Do I trust His words?  I claim as a Christian that I  believe the Word of God is truth.  Why then, when things happen, am I and so many others like me afraid and why do we resort to our own means of solving issues as if He doesn’t exist at all?

It’s called “living in the flesh” and not “walking in the Spirit”. It’s a battle we face on a daily basis, just as Paul described in Romans 7.

As we try unsuccessfully to control situations and people without consulting God, we leave them untouched by God’s hand and, most of the time,  worse than they were before we became involved. Through our humanity and our good intentions, we can prolong lessons God is trying to teach us and other people.  By stepping into God’s plan for our life or another person’s life without the Spirit guiding us, we swerve things off course, and do a disservice to the kingdom of God.

Even if we are trying to alleviate the pain others may face, it’s wrong to step in uninvited by the Savior!

Even if we are trying to alleviate the pain others may face, it's wrong to step in uninvited by the Savior!
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Solomon is a great example.  1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

We see in the life of Solomon that His own wisdom apart from God was destructive, but when he utilized God’s wisdom and followed in His truth, he was richly blessed.  We are blessed that, unlike Solomon, we have the grace of Jesus, so we do not live under the penalty of our sin – but that is no excuse for continual sin in our lives.

After we recognize the wrong of our right, what should we do?

Ask for forgiveness.  The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 –  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Next, we need to remember the old saying: “without pain there is no gain.”  Trials come for a reason, and it is through the pain that we and other people we love learn hard lessons and grow in the faith.

God never promised an easy road.  He promised comfort, and strength to face our adversities.  He promised wisdom, guidance and an eternity with Him one day – in a much better place.

Through these trials, our hope is in His truth:

Psalm 34:19 says, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”

Romans 8:28 says, ” And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  All things means the good and the bad, the pleasant and not so pleasant!

Our lives, out of love for our Savior, should be an outpouring of the truth that is within us because of the Spirit that indwells us.  It’s a hard road in our flesh, but through the Spirit that indwells us, it’s not impossible.

I am encouraged today by the Lord and His truth that He has revealed to me.  And I trust you are too!  Let’s stand strong together in our faith and cry out to our Father who wants to comfort our hearts, guide our steps, and grow our hearts toward Him.

 Phillipians 4:6-7 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

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The post Living with Adversity in the Arms of Jesus appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.