The battle is already won, but you have to choose victory.
This month has been a wild ride in many ways. I have learned a number of lessons. One of which is choosing victory. That’s right choosing victory.
On our day off in Cappadocia one of my team mates asked “how are you always so joyful all the time?” I responded ” I have to choose it, every morning, sometimes it is a battle, but I choose victory, some days it is tempting to not choose it though. I do have days like that sometimes.”
However this question started a very interesting internal investigation that God has been using to grow and stretch me. Furthermore it has caused me to inquire with the Lord what the truth is about the battle. Is it won? is it wagging in my heart? Is the outcome yet to be determined? To which I got the answer…..”yes”.
He likely did this to send me on a journey, our Father loves journey’s it causes us to trust him, to rely on him, it allows us to experience God, rather than to just know the answer. So the journey begins. I have made some interesting discoveries including the one I opened with.
The battle was won on the cross, and the victory claimed when our King and Saviour rose from the grave. But you still have to choose victory, just like you chose Jesus.
You see one of the ways the enemy lies to us, or twists the truth is to actually make victory look unappealing. Because sometimes it seems easier to lay down and become a victim. Sometimes it is easier to wake up in the morning and not go to ministry because your stomach hurts from the ramadan (ramazan in turkish) fast you did the day before. Some days it is easier to wake up and not choose Joy. Some days on this race it is easier to not give constructive feedback in our infamous “feedback” sessions. It’s easy to be offended by someone, it’s easy to be a victim. But that is not victory. See how he does that!?
That is not victory. Victory is waking in the morning and submitting your day, mindset, viewpoints, opinions, moods, pains, illnesses and thoughts to the King.Then choosing his will anyways. It is bringing your worries, to God. It is waking up and choosing joy, not to mask the pain, but in replacement of it! You have the authority to claim Victory. Jesus was victorious, and we are seated with him.Ephesians 2:6 states it…”And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” so why not do it!
Our teams do something called “feedback sessions” where we are able to encourage, build up, and call out-then up our team mates. It is where we help one another grow, and it is why I will not return home the same person. In these sessions, sometimes it seems easy to just avoid the hard topics, but this last month has taught me that, such thoughts are lies. There is no victory in saying nothing, because then there is no battle. If there is no battle, then there is nothing to overcome, and thus no victory. Conflict creates room for growth. So if you choose to enter it you can have Victory! Remember the battle is already won, you just have to claim victory! It will take some humility and grace in these situations, which is ok, because God has equipped you with all necessary tools, and weapons through the Holy Spirit! Primarily “the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.”(Ephesians 6:17).
It is interesting How the enemy lies to us, it can actually make defeat look appealing, and victory look hard. But I am telling you (testifying) first hand that is not the case! Remember that God is on your side, so many times this month I have faced this battle, but instead chose Victory by entering in, and every single time God has come through. Even when my own thoughts made it seem impossible. God is the God of miracles and he will give you what you need to claim that victory. Because the battle is already won!! Don’t fall for the victim trap. If you know me then you know my testimony. There has been many times I could have chosen the victim card(and sometimes I did), times where it would have seemed resonable. However such leads to a crutchingly painful and bitter lifestyle of tripping over my own shoelaces when I can just tie them and get on with my relationship with God.
Face the battle, you may not even have to fight it. Just check out the story of Gideon and what God did with 300 men. Now that’s cool. Thats what you have access to! You have the authority. You just have to choose to exercise it. Remember dear friends their is only victory in Obedience to Christ. even if the outcome is not what you expected. Following jesus=victory. You don’t have to be perfect at it, you just have to choose it. So friends let’s stop giving into the lie’s about the outcome of the battle. For the battle is won, but you have to choose victory. Don’t fall into the trap of winning the battle but not achieving victory.
sincerely,
Tomas Ruhland
