If there is one thing I have figured out about the Lord is He loves a winner. But His method and manner of getting a winner often begins with one who has lost a time or two. Or is too small. Or too weak. But somehow the miracle working power of the Almighty Himself changes a person into a winner. He takes the normal everyday life of a man or woman and supercharges it.

When one looks at the person of David or Moses or a Gideon through the eyes of the world it is hard to see the winner. But when the power of God is yielded to (You can resist the devil and you can resist God.) the world as we know it changes.

Today while at work, I was working through my “metrics”. The numbers I need to make my goal. I was coming up to 4:30 and I thought I was down 20 calls to meet my standards. One hour to make 20 calls. Now earlier in the day I had a class that took me off the sales floor as we well as made the decision to take a couple of walks so I could get 10,000 steps in towards my wellness. Another metric. (I bypassed lunch which I usually do.) I was bumming. As I checked my 5PM numbers I was one away from my goal! What? I am not sure what happened or how it happened.

While on one of my walks, I was praying and speaking over my life. Did it work? Not sure. But what I am certain of is I was grateful. It was a victory for me no matter how I looked at it. Victory.

The following was written some 16 years ago. I certainly see the world differently. A defeated foe. A finished work. But still victory.

In the middle of trial and tribulation, nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. Amen!

We are still at war, but one of the things about war is remembering you are in it to win…not get your pants shot off! And yesterday, as I proclaimed the victory (Hey, wouldn’t some of these generals like to be in a war that they know they have ALREADY won???) of Jesus at the cross, as I reminded satan of his defeat, the Lord just poured out. The situation of yesterday has been resolved in a way that I can live with. People I met with yesterday have seen their situations and lives move ahead.

Victory.
“Victory is mine.
Victory is mine.
Victory today is mine.
I told satan get thee behind me.
Victory today is mine.”

Victory is yours. Reach out for it. Grab it. Hold onto it. When the enemy has come in like a flood, if you and I hold our heads high we can see the Lord raise up a standard that will defeat the enemy. When we recognize the greatest discouragement is just before the greatest miracle, the greatest blessing, we CAN stand!!!

Yesterday I had favor from on high with the Lord in the circumstances I encountered. Not because of my standing with God, but because of His standing with me. Jesus loves you. Staying on the playing field keeps you in the game. Recognize it.

The greatest warfare you can perhaps wage is that of simply standing, not being moved, dialing into the love of Jesus. If you are having trouble believing He loves you, begin to sit at His feet, even now. Shut off your computer and get down on your knees and ask Him to flood you with His love. His love will fill you, bringing light to dark places, peace to turmoil, healing to hurt and love to hatred.

Its not Jesus who is “out to get you”. It’s satan. Its not Jesus who wants you punished. Its satan. And when you grab on to that, victory is at hand. If you haven’t realized you have victory, brothers and sisters, it was given to you at the cross. Shed blood for your sin. Liquid love from a man whom you treated as an enemy. A man you and I spit on, cajoled, ripped His beard out, killed. That man loves you. He gave you victory.

When the enemy knocks at your door, show him what you are made of…Jesus. The name above all names. Jesus.

And that song up there about victory…begin to sing it. It will be part of you that the enemy can not move.

There is a victory that has been won and a victory to be enforced. It is our job to simply enjoy the rest of God and enforce the victory that has been established by the cross. A war that has been won with blood and His death on the cross. It is our job to enforce that victory with our words, actions and faith.

A lot of time what we face is not meeting a metric but something more difficult. Sometimes it is facing a loss or sick. The requirements are the same. Enforcement of the victory. It is amazing that a word or a song can shift an atmosphere.

God has given you all authority. How you use that authority determines what your tomorrow may look like. It determines generations and the overall atmosphere of a community. There has been a victory won in the most unimaginable way known to man. That is perhaps why it is so hard to wrap one’s brain around. And yet if we truly understood it is not by might nor by power but by the spirit, so many things would change.

Too often we assume opposition means error and yet what it most likely indicates is opportunity. The greatest weapon of warfare may in fact be righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. To not be affected by the works of darkness. My friend Mark wrote this, “Seasons of promotion often attract attack! Don’t shrink back now! What opposes you is designed to promote you!” Today is your day. The victory has been won. The battle has been tipped in your favor to have you win. Satan truly is under your feet!