VICTORY!

As a child I was not the "athletic" type....my thing was books, making cool science projects, running for office in student government, so therefore I didn't know what my level of physical endurance would be until I became older and implemented a workout regimen.

Being a Christian, I certainly didn't know what my "spiritual endurance" would be until I began going through "storms" of life. Wow, I can recall early on in my walk with God.....it was hard, I wanted to give up, throw in the towel and forget about the test, my mentality was just give me an F because I am failing. My carnal mind was not putting my trust in God, who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. I tried to fight the battles on my own! Boy, was that the wrong thing to do.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us " For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Too many times when I was in the battle, my flesh had me looking at who was against me, instead of what spirit lies within that situation. Finally, I wanted to just quit, throw in the towel. Crying out to God, I began seeking more of him. Each speed bump, hiccup or hurdle that I faced, was different and hurt even the more. I can imagine how I looked sweat beating against the brow, panting hard, losing my breath and at the point where the ropes couldn't hold me up, I was down for the count as a matter of fact, the countdown by the refree had already begun. But God had a different plan, he never intended for me to run from my problems, instead of me throwing up the white flag, he wanted me to throw my hands up and surrender to him.

God wants to fight our battles, he doesn't want us to hold on to them and harbor unforgiveness, lose our sense of joy and more importantly lose sight of what he has prepared for us. Sometimes the look and smell of victory is at what appears to be the point of defeat. But just when you were ready to throw in the white towel, GOD steps in and says....."I have this, I am turning this around for your good!" The battle is not yours it belongs to GOD! What was trying to defeat you has been defeated by God.....he has crushed the enemy on your behalf! VICTORY BELONGS TO YOU!

Reference Scriptures: Psalms 21:11, II Chronicles 20:15,Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 6:12, II Corinthians 10:3