Reflections, March 15th, 2009

Reflections: More Than Conquerors

Sunday, March 15^th, 2009

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1,2

At some point in our lives, we will be faced with things that will either strengthen us, weaken us, or break us. But at no time, if we are walking in Christ, are we ever alone. There will be times that we will make the best choice, and at other times the worst choice. There will be times when we will hit the mark, at others where will totally miss it. Yet, God tells us that even in those times-the worst times, the bad decisions, missing the mark, or the toughest of times and circumstances-will never separate us from His love. He tells us, that within us lies the ability to conquer all the circumstances that we will ever be faced with. He assures us that when we are in Christ Jesus, and are walking after the Spirit (living to please God, seeking His Kingdom first) we are free from the spirit of condemnation. Although the enemy will come and try his best, the Father lets us know that we can conquer those feelings and thoughts, and triumph over all circumstances and situations, if we would first walk after the Spirit and not the flesh. And believe; being totally convinced that we are more than conquerors in Christ.

It is my sincerest prayer that this week's Reflection will be a source of encouragement and hope. I ask that you would receive the words of the Lord with an open heart, and that God would grant you a teachable spirit, that He may fill you with His everlasting wisdom; especially in the trying times that many of us face. I pray you find your strength in the joy of the Lord, as you seek to be in His presence.

We are facing some very difficult times. But no more difficult than many have faced before us. Many reports echo the same doom and gloom. Yet, for those of us that have a relationship with the King eternal, we know that our faith, trust, and our help does not come from man, but from God. We cannot allow the current circumstances in the world to dictate our relationship with God. We mustn't allow the flesh to supersede the spirit. There has to be a point at which we dig in our heels and declare that no amount of bills, no amount of lack, no situation, or financial crisis determines how much the Lord truly does love us and how much praise and worship we offer unto the Lord.

I have come to understand through my walk in Christ just how much Satan despises a praying and worshipping believer. He cannot stand it! And he will do whatever it takes to break us. He will do whatever he can to try and manipulate us, and separate us from the knowledge of who we are in Christ, and how God truly does love us.

In my personal relationship, and from observation, I have seen the machinations of the enemy's strategic plan to divide and conquer the children of God. The enemy will bombard us with all manner of ill feelings and thoughts to convince us that we are not worthy of the love of God. To convince us that our "circumstances" are a true mirror of God's lack of love for us. He [Satan] will even try to convince us that we are wasting our time serving the Lord, by using lines such as: "If God really loved you, why would he allow you to suffer? If there really is a God, why is allowing so much bad things to happen? Praising God does nothing! He doesn't hear you anyway!"

I can really go on with the many different lies the enemy will come up with to shake our faith or totally destroy it. Did you ever wonder why the enemy works so hard at messing with you? Because he knows, that once you understand who you are in Christ; once you understand the power that you have; once you understand and are totally convinced of the love that God has for you, and can give God praise and worship in the midst of hell braking loose in your life, he [Satan] knows that you have just become the biggest threat to his kingdom! He knows that once a person truly believes and understands that they have been made more than a conqueror, there is nothing he can use against you.

When you are set free from your past (mistakes and all), and have embraced the redemption that Christ has given you through His shed blood, and begin to walk after the Spirit, God's power fills you, and His anointing will destroy the very lies that the enemy often whispers into your ears, trying to penetrate your heart. But there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can or will separate you from the love of God or the access to the power that He has given you through salvation.

Romans 8:35-39

"Who shall separate from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Many believe that it is easier said than done. But if you would continue to put forth the effort to give God praise. To purpose in your heart and mind to seek the Father, (Daily) to come into His presence, spending time with the Lord, you may just be surprised at how strong you really are. You may find that you have more strength than you thought. You may also find that you have come into the knowledge and wisdom that will deliver you out of your current situation.

Throughout the Scripture, God admonishes His children to continue to seek Him; to never cease in prayer, to trust Him. For if we do this, we will see the hand of God moving in our lives. He tells us that we will shall be like trees planted by the river banks, who's leaves will never wither but remain green, even in the midst of drought. (Jeremiah17:8)

There is an eternal peace; an inward peace of heart and mind that will consume you when you know who you are in Christ, and when you actively seek to be in His presence, and walk after His ways, in the path of righteousness. There is strength that comes from continuing to serve God and giving Him praise and worship form the heart, even through the toughest of times. Even when your feelings/emotions are screaming to give up, and to keep your mouth closed; pushing through it all, and giving God the praise, spending time in His presence, gives you the strength and wherewithal to make it to the next day.

I cannot begin to tell you how much this gives the devil a black eye! How much this destroys the plot of the enemy against you. The enemy cannot handle a determined and convinced believer. It frightens him. Because the truth of the matter is, the more convinced you are, the more strong you are, the brighter your light shines. The more of a testimony and witness you are to someone else. And the more you stand firm, I can guarantee you that someone is watching, and will be led to Christ. And that's the last thing the enemy wants!

God created you for His glory. He create you in His image. He gave His only begotten Son for you. He sent His spirit to fill you, to teach you. He made available to you all His power, all his love, all of Himself. And in return, He takes your past, your failures, your fears, your mistakes, your sins, and destroys them and then forgets them. God holds nothing against you. But He hoards an abundance of love for you. And if you can grasp this notion. If you can believe, and have faith (even a mustard seed size), you will become one of the greatest threats to the enemy's kingdom.

In you is the power to conquer every thing that will try to separate you from the love of God. In you, in your heart and mouth, is the power to stand against the enemy and do profound damage to his kingdom. In you is the power to rise up-even in the midst of chaos and the fieriest of tribulations and storms-and declare that you are victorious in every battle. That the war has already been won. That no matter what comes your way: whatever test, trial, circumstance, you know who you are and you will stand firm and strong, and boldly walk after the Spirit and not the flesh, and choose this day to believe that all that God has spoken and said of you is true.

I hope that you take the time to offer up sincere praise and worship this week to the Lord. You may be pleasingly surprised at what happens when you determine in your heart to walk after the spirit, and rise above what your feelings or motions may be dictating. I pray the spirit of peace and prosperity will rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. May the grace of God be evident in your life. May His praise be in your mouth and His worship fill your heart. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.