The Key to Victorious Living 365 Days a Year
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. -- Psalm 118:24
Live victoriously 365 days a year? Is it really possible? It is not only possible, but this blessing has also been promised to every believer who will appropriate it by faith. Jesus came to give us an abundant life--free from sin, sickness, worry, poverty, depression, fear, frustration, and defeat. Most Christians, however, have allowed Satan, who is described by Jesus as a thief (John 10:10), to rob them of their health and prosperity, as well as to usurp their rights and authority.
Did you know that God never intended for His children to be sick and afflicted, nor poverty stricken and oppressed? Are you aware that it is His will for you to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers (III John 2)? Did you know that He desires for you to live a fruitful and abundant life, walking in victory 365 days a year? God has pledged that His children, who obey His Word, shall enjoy prosperity in all things:
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. -- Psalm 1:3
We are not suggesting that God intended for His children to live a life free from any problems or trials, or without testing; but we are saying that God has provided the means whereby these things do not need to dominate us, as they do so many, and that they can be controlled and overcome. Although most Christians have been reading the Bible for years, many of them do not seem to realize that God has invited them to walk through life on a pathway literally paved with His promises.
There are thousands of promises in the Word of God made to the believer, and yet the average Christian has appropriated only one -- the promise of salvation in John 3:16. A certain number have, to be sure, claimed the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), and others have claimed the promise of divine healing (Mark 16:18); but few Christians have grasped the full nature of their inheritance as joint-heirs with Christ.
The Scriptures are filled with divine assurance, rights, privileges, blessings, and promises whereby God has made provision for the Christian's spiritual, physical, and temporal needs, as well as for the accomplishment of the work He has commissioned His church to do. All these provisions and blessings are available to the extent that we are willing to press through by faith and appropriate them.
Jesus characterizes Satan as a thief who has come to rob you of your abundant life and defeat you through circumstances. The enemy has most Christians deceived into believing that all of the promises of temporal blessing were for the past and applied only to Israel, in heaven, in spite of such glorious promises as are found in Matthew 6:19-34; Mark 11:22-24 and 16:16-20; Luke 11:13; I Corinthians 3:21-22; Philippians 4:19; and III John 2.
The Word of God promises the believer an abundant and fruitful life, with the assurance that he can rise by faith above all opposing circumstances, endure even the severest trials, overcome his problems, enjoy peace and security, and walk in victory 365 days a year.
For most Christians, however, life consists in just "getting by somehow" from day to day -- hoping they will not get sick, worrying whether or not the money will hold out until the end of the month, praying that their children will not get into serious trouble, hoping the old car will last through the winter, struggling to get through one more day, then catching a few hours of rest before beginning the endless cycle all over again the next day. Life consists of 365 days of cares, worries, and problems, with only an occasional ray of sunshine breaking through the dark clouds of life.
This mediocre form of living is definitely not God's will for His children, but results from the simple fact that, although most Christians have been taught how to prepare for death, few have learned how to live. Thus, to them, one day looks like the next; it is filled with cares, problems, troubles, and worries. For most it seems that life has become sheer drudgery.
How were your last 365 days of life as a Christian? Were they filled with joy. victory, and accomplishment? Were you able to overcome your problems? Did you endure your trials by faith? Was there a definite growth in your spiritual life? Did you experience an increase in your faith? Or were your last 365 days not much different from those of Mr. and Mrs. Average Christian -- filled with cares, troubles, sickness, disappointments, and failures?
Do you know that God has set forth in His Word certain principles concerning the Christian's thoughts, attitudes, and confession which will enable him to achieve emotional stability and peace of mind, as well as an enduring faith, empowering him to walk in victory over all circumstances each day?
This is no empty hope, impossible of realization, but is more and more becoming the actual experience of many saints. Because of their uncompromising faith in the Word of God, they are as the Psalmist describes them:
...like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. -- Psalm 1:3
What is the secret of such victorious living? It is Biblical thinking and a Biblical confession. Nothing could be more positive!