The Victory is Already Ours

11/16/24

Good day Mortal Angel –

Do you compete with others? 

I try not to – mainly ‘cuz I just don’t wanna feel like a loser when I don’t measure up to someone else’s standard. (Apparently, I have a fragile ego :)).

Here’s an article on the subject I wrote several months ago for the church bulletin. (A place where a few of the people are quite competitive – including the pastor! {Gulp:)} That hadn’t occurred to me until after it was submitted.😳)

Thankfully I haven’t been ousted, tarred & feathered (yet ;)).

We’re Already Victors

Hi Good People,

What’s your favorite time of day?

Is it a certain hour or daily action, or maybe when you think you’ve beat someone at some (perhaps perceived) challenge? 

What happens if you don’t win? 🙂

I always claim to not be competitive but wonder if that’s just because of being the youngest of five siblings and quite sickly as a child, I never really stood a chance of winning in physical contests. Not measuring up to someone else’s best left me believing I was a loser, so I thought I’d quit trying.

What’s kind of funny is, not that long ago there was a moment when I thought I may have actually done something better than someone else and became heart lightened, genuinely smiled and kinda wanted to gloat!

(Hopefully there was some restraint but no guarantees :))

I am competing by trying to prove to myself and others that what I do and who I am may not be as ‘perfect’ as the next person thinks they are, but Whose I am, who I am and what I do does have value.

Also realized that at least part of that constant low grade (low grade??? – why do I suddenly feel the need to laugh hysterically? :)) anxiety comes from trying to prove I AM good enough, dang nab it.

Pretty certain I’m not the only person who feels this way?

But do you realize, the victory is already ours? (Ours, plural:))

So for whatever life race we think we have to run and/or battle we doubt we’ll win, here’s a news flash . . .

“Today we do not fight FOR victory, 
we fight FROM victory.
We do not fight in order to win but because in Christ 
we have already won.
Overcomers are those who rest in the victory already
given to them
by their God.”
(A quote from Watchman Nee)

And Biblically speaking – did you know there are quite a few verses on this subject? Several are:

In Galatians 6:4 Paul wrote: “Each one should take pride in their own actions, then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

Romans 12:2 is: “Do  not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

A reprimand from Paul in 1Corinthians 4:7: “For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything is from God why boast as though it were not a gift?”

Hmmm . . . 

Dear Heavenly Abba,

Thank You that YOU are our victory! We don’t have to exhaust our time and selves trying to prove to others who are trying to prove to us that we’re each the better mortal. Not only is that an unending race since someone is always going to be better so we’ll always be trying to overtake another, but we’re also taking our eyes off of You to do it.

May we figure out how to rest in the exquisite knowledge that we ARE good enough in YOUR eyes, and know that YOU are providing us with all the love, energy, time, resources and direction we need as we allow You to lead us to do better for YOUR purposes and we live out our victory in You.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!