Then came the morning that sealed the promise, your buried body began to breathe. Out of the silence, the roaring lion, declared the grave has no claim on me. Jesus yours is the victory!
I love these lyrics from the Phil Wickham song “Living Hope.”
They remind me that through the work of Christ, I live in a place of spiritual victory. I don’t have to strive for it; I already have it. Victory over sin is what Jesus gained for us on the cross. I have chosen to accept this tremendous gift which is offered to all of us. So, why is it so hard to live out the victory I know I have?
The truth is, I have areas of struggle that won’t go away no matter how long I have walked with God. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to me. Rather than promising an easy life, Jesus told us that we would have trials (see John 16:33). Peter, James, and Paul also speak about the trials we will have, and encourage us to face them with joy and rejoicing (1 Peter 1:6, Romans 5:3, James 1:2). Paul even shares about “a thorn in [his] flesh” in his letter to the Corinthians—something that tormented him and would not go away.
So, how do we live in a place of victory even though we continue to face struggles, often the same ones, day after day?
When the craving for some kind of food I know I don’t need but want anyway hits, my first instinct is to “just say no.” When it comes to food, I have found my will power fails me over and over again, leaving me feeling defeated and hopeless. After reading Lysa Turkhurst’s book Made to Crave, I realized I would never win this battle depending solely on my own strength. I also realized that I didn’t have to. In Christ, I have victory over food temptations. I can say “no” to something I really want and not be miserable about it.
Meditating on the victory I have in Christ and choosing a victorious mindset have helped me win battles I never thought I would be able to overcome.
Choosing to look at the struggles I encounter on a daily basis with a victorious paradigm changes the way I approach them. It makes me less dependent on will power and more reliant on the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer. This mindset is powerful! It brings freedom and confidence rather than condemnation and accusation.
Another important part of living in a place of victory is community and accountability.
When I share my struggle with a trusted friend or small group of people in my life, they can hold me accountable in my thoughts and actions surrounding that issue. My vulnerability in a struggle strengthens my ability to face it victoriously.
What battle have you been facing that feels like you will never win?
Getting ahead in your finances, no longer gossiping, falling into legalism or self-righteousness, not having grace for yourself or others, rebuilding a broken relationship, meeting that weight loss goal? How could a different mindset, one that says, “Hey! You don’t need to struggle and strive; You have already won this battle through Christ,” change the way you respond to temptation?
I have a long way to go in living this out consistently, but I have found so much freedom and joy in those moments when I do give up striving and pray for the Holy Sprit to help me walk in victory. I hope you give it a try and experience Christ’s victory in your life.
