My competitive side was getting the better of me. As far as we were into the game, it was clear I wasn’t going to win. I’d tried, strategizing my way through, but there was no doubt who would have the victory (not me.)

The temptation? To pick up the whole stinking board game and shake it. Maybe toss it. Maybe stomp on it, as I’d seen little kids I babysat do.

On that day, I was feeling like a sore loser.

That’s what Satan probably feels like every day.

Sometimes I need reminding of this, and maybe you do too.

Satan knows he is going to lose.

Victory, for all eternity, belongs to Jesus. He’s already won it. Fate is secure. Back in the garden when God pronounced His curses, Satan knew he would be the loser.

Still, he wages war. Sore loser that he is, Satan does what he can to stack the playing field so we doubt the outcome. He shakes up the board, so all the pieces look like they’re out of place and we can’t make sense of anything.

Like a bitter child about to be punished, he gets in whatever jabs he can anyway.

Satan likes to go down swinging.

That’s why faith is still a fight, even though we know who is going to win in the end.

Satan likes to go down swinging. That’s why faith is still a fight, even though we know who is going to win in the end.
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When suffering and sorrow make fear and desperation seem credible,

Remember:

• The end is near
• Death will die
• Satan will be bound
• Christ has overcome the world
• There is no condemnation for those who are Christ’s
• God gives us the victory through Jesus

This battle of faith isn’t about winning because it’s already been won. Instead, it’s about persisting.

The believer’s rallying cry is simply keep on.

Though that sore loser thrashes and trash talks and threatens that he isn’t playing, we know he’s missed the whole point of the game anyway. We’re not to miss it, too.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” –1 Corinthians 15:58

Continuing to do the next thing, to play by God’s rules, to live faithfully to the finish line with our eyes on the prize- is not in vain.

Satan’s a sore loser, but He will lose!

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” -1 John 5:5

Keep fighting the good fight of faith!

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LINKUP is open. Join my friend @bethanymcilrath as we recall the truth about Satan and Christ's victory. Share your blog with us too!
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The post The Sore Loser {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

So I’m letting you peek into my personal journal for twenty thoughts I hope encourage you and bring life to your soul. Some thoughts the Lord gave me in the past, but are helpful now. While others are fresh inspiration from the Lord.

Wholeness And Forgiveness

(1.) If people add injury to my pain, they are broken people in need of wholeness from Christ. Broken people break people. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3 ESV.

(2.) I must cling to the only sure hope in the darkness. Jesus. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5 ESV.

(3.) Lord, place the cross and the blood of Jesus between me and the enemy, and between me and difficult people and circumstances. There’s nothing Your redemptive blood doesn’t cover. And there’s nothing it can’t redeem.

(4.) When we refuse to forgive others or even ourselves, we are limiting God. We are saying He’s not able to give us supernatural ability to forgive. We are putting ourselves as a god above the God who is so loving, so merciful, and so kind that every time we repent, He gladly forgives.

If people add injury to my pain, they are broken people in need of wholeness from Christ. Broken people break people. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3 ESV. #journal #broken @FridayKaren
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New Mercies And Promises

(5.) I’m so thankful for the power of prayer: that mountains still move, seas still part, mana still rains from heaven, and because God can raise the dead, ashes turn to beauty again.

(6.) Even if the world seems to stop spinning. Even if dark clouds seem to hijack sunny days. And even if life seems void of another sunrise or sunset. The Son holds the world and me in His hands (Psalm 95:4). The Son shines His face on me and gives me peace (Numbers 6:25:-26). And the Son rises with healing in His wings and with new mercies every morning (Malachi 4:4, Lamentations 3:22-23).

(7.) Lord, I know all your promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ. So help me trust that there are countless and hearty yeses and the loudest Amens at the end of this path (2 Corinthians 1:20).

(8.) God IS a good, good Father and I am confident goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6). Lord, as I walk through a valley, help me to turn and see the footprints of goodness and mercy behind me every step of the way.

Strength And Restoration

(9.) The Lord is my strength, my song, my salvation. The LORD is a Warrior! MY warrior! (Exodus 15:2-3).

(10.) Lord, I’m claiming a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, that You may be glorified (Isaiah 61:3).

(11.) In Joel 2:25, the Lord promised to restore the years the locusts had eaten. And if you know the total, devastating damage caused by locusts. And how they consume everything in their path…any form of life and vegetation. If God can restore that kind of damage and death and nothingness back to life and wholeness…He can do it in my life.

(12.) I am loved. I am chosen. And I am redeemed. I am free.

Grace And Open Arms

(13.) Romans 12:1-2 calls for me not to be conformed to this world. Instead, I’m called to offer myself as a living sacrifice. But it’s hard to be a living sacrifice when I keep crawling off the altar of God’s holiness.

(14.)  Whether it’s hard circumstances, unfulfilled dreams, strength for new things, or hope for the future: God is faithful as God. God is faithful to His callings on my life. God is faithful to me. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23 ESV.

(15.) Rules never saved anyone. Rule-keeping never provided grace. But the blood of Jesus covers my sins and provides amazing grace…saving grace! It’s not about rule-keeping, but obeying the Almighty God and His Word.

(16.) God’s always waiting with open arms. There’s no better, safer, or stronger arms than the arms of the Almighty.

Romans 12:1-2 calls for me not to be conformed to this world. Instead, I’m called to offer myself as a living sacrifice. But it’s hard to be a living sacrifice when I keep crawling off the #altar of God’s holiness. @FridayKaren
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Battles And Victory

(17.) The Christian life isn’t about “arriving” as if there’s nothing more to learn or overcome. It’s about arriving to a better place—a stronger place as a believer.

(18.) God steps into my mess as soon as I decide to step out.

(19.)  I stand as victor because Christ was victorious.

(20.) In a spiritual battle, the enemy holds no power over me. Satan is not God’s equal, he is powerless before the Almighty who fights for me.

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Linkup is open, share your blog! @FridayKaren lets us peek into her journal for thoughts about wholeness, forgiveness, God's mercies and promises, valley journeys, and grace. #blog #journaling
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The post 20 Life-giving Entries in My Journal {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

You remember the monumental moments of your faith.

When you take the first step of faith and your foundation is laid in Christ, it’s memorable.  Days, months, even years later when crucial decisions arise and you find that you indeed want to live with Him as your cornerstone, it’s big.

There are moments of obvious growth and transformation as piece by piece you’re built, a temple to glorify God.

The moment when you gave up on a certain sin and it stuck. That time when the Lord provided something extraordinarily spectacular.

But in the building of your faith to His glory, there is more than just the big, memorable, and obvious. There are also the nuts, bolts, screws, and drops of glue.

Little victories -these are what hold all of the major framework in place. @BethanyMcIlrath
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Little victories are as simple as:

• An unspoken prayer answered
• A silly picker-upper in your day
• A call at just the right time
• A gentle kick in the pants when you need it
• A reminder that you get to choose your attitude
• A verse that stays in mind
• An extra three minutes with nothing to do but get quiet with the Lord
• A song on the radio speaking to your heart
• A gift you needed but never asked for
• A smile and a hug, just warm and full of love
• A step out of bed when you feel you can’t get up
• A sunrise you wouldn’t want to miss when you didn’t want to wake
• A moment of clarity in a pattern of mess
• A laugh by yourself that just has to be loud
• A sense that you are not alone, even when you kind of are
• A little conviction from the Lord, coupled with grace
• A broken bad habit, maintained
• A Friday waking up to realize that you’ve formed a good habit in just a few days
• A glimpse into what may be coming, filling you with hope

Simple. So simple are these. But they are the thousands of “littles” that make for big faith. Remember the verse?

If you are faithful in the little things, you will be faithful in large ones. (Luke 16:10)

Even a house with big beams and solid boards breaks and creaks if little screws haven’t secured the planks. @BethanyMcIlrath #RechargeWednesdayLinkup
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Look on your little victories as faith builders, not “almosts” or “steps.” They have a purpose too. Tack them in. Drill them in place. Hammer away with gratitude, with recognition, and praise. Those little victories are built to last.

When your house of faith rocks and shakes…

When you climb its steps and enjoy the view…

When another large addition is in progress…

When the Lord wants to show off His handiwork…

You’ll be glad for every short moment you spent ensuring that you saw the victory, the gift, and put it to work in your faith.

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

This post may also be shared on: #MomentsofHope, #DreamTogetherLinkup, #TestimonyTuesday, #RaRaLinkup,  #TeaAndWord, #TellHisStory, #RechargeWednesday, #Thought-Provoking Thursday, #Heart Encouragement, #LiveFreeThursday, #DanceWithJesus, #LLMLinkup, Faith-Filled Friday, Sitting Among Friends, Fresh Market Friday, and #SoulSurvivalLinkup.

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