Victory is part of your inheritance and identity in Christ. Romans 8:37 states that you are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” If God declares you as a conqueror then you can pray to step into that identity.
When God adopted me into his family, I knew that I was his heir and that his abundant love was mine for the taking. But instead of walking in that love, I slunk around, believing that I didn’t deserve lavish love. I needed to believe and walk in His love, but because of my struggle I had to pray that God would help me.
Treating your victorious status in Christ is similar. You are a victor and it’s not wrong, selfish, or ambitious to pray for victory over issues of the flesh in your life. If you struggle with a gossipy tongue, then praying for victory is the very best thing you can do to overcome it.
If anger or bitterness rests in your heart, then you must pray for victory to defeat it. That’s the prayer for victory that God desires. But if you pray for victory for selfish ends, God cannot bless that prayer because it reveals a misunderstanding of the heart of love and forgiveness that flows from God to all people.
The other side of the coin in praying for victory is forgetting that it’s God who makes the victory possible. It’s far too easy to rely on my own strength and devices to get to where I want to be.
Proverbs 21:31 states “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
This verse indicates that I need to do all I can, but that I wait for the outcome—the victory—from God. I do what I can, every moment of every day, to say “yes” to right living according to God’s standards and then I trust him for the victory.
The Bible has much to say about victory. In the Old Testament, David and his mighty men are one such group of examples of the power of obedience and the victory God gives.
“But he [Eleazer son of Dodai the Ahohite] stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day.” – 2 Samuel 23:10
“But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.” – 2 Samuel 23:12
Notice that each of these verses begin with a “but.” I’m going to call this word holy because what followed it became a holy moment in Israel’s history.
These men faced unbelievable odds and didn’t give up. The Lord brought about a great victory, and he can do that for you too. Stand firm, wield the armor of God, and watch the Lord bring victory.
Victory is woven throughout the New Testament, as well:
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57
“Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” – 2 Timothy 2:5
“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” – 1 John 5:3-4
Your victory is assured. You can give thanks to God and also remember the importance of following God’s ways. Loving God is tied to obedience to his ways and his word. To fully gain the victory, God promises you his heart, and you discover his heart as you spend time in the word of God.
Holy God, I come before you, overwhelmed by the vastness of evil in this world. It grows ever darker, and I need your light to shine ever brighter. Help me to stand firm, holding my shield of faith high in order to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let your word go forth with truth and justice so that you would triumph over the evil in this world. Your power astounds and resounds and I wait in anticipation for your victory.
Heavenly Father, I pray my marriage to stand strong in this day and age of self-discovery. Let us grow together and not apart. Draw our hearts to you, Lord, as each of us surrenders to the transforming work you want to do in our lives. May other marriages know the power of victory that comes from submitting to you. As you work in them as individuals to corporately bless their marriages, I pray that your victory would be evident and that all glory goes to you.
Oh God, my heart groans as I face this new day. I’m not sure I can stand upright let alone take another step. But you, oh God, are my rock and my refuge. You say I am more than a conqueror and I’m choosing to believe that in faith. I need your victory in my situation. I can’t see my way out or if there’s even an end. Let me fall into you and let you win the battle for faith in my heart. With you there is victory and I trust you.
Father, my heart breaks for my loved ones. Some don’t know you. Some are far from you. And some are struggling to believe that you are good and have good plans for their lives. Lord, would you reach into their lives? Would you breathe across their hearts to stir the embers that hide there? Be victorious in their hearts and may they know the richness and the power that comes from trusting you. In you, they gain their victory, and Lord, I ask that they would see you with clarity.
Victory in our lives finds its way through prayer. Jesus called his disciples to prayer and demonstrated the importance of prayer by making it a habit to go to quiet places to pray. He spent more time praying in private than he did in public. It’s in the private times with God that your faith gets exercised so that when you’re faced with challenges, you can respond as the victor you are.
God doesn’t fail. He gives victory because the battle belongs to him. How you pray and how often you pray belongs to you. Lift up your voice. There’s mighty power in the name of Jesus. Don’t back down from your giants. The story ends in God’s favor, which is victory.
Jessica Van Roekel leads worship in her local church and writes at www.welcomegrace.com. She believes that through Christ our personal histories don’t have to define our present or determine our future and writes about the transforming power of grace. Jessica lives in a rural setting surrounded by farmland and her husband and children. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
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