Overwhelming Victory

Romans 8:31-38 New Living Translation (NLT)

³¹ What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”^[a]) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

      

     My favorite part is verse 37 “despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” What an amazing promise! No matter what we go through victory is ours. Don’t get me wrong, not all victories happen the way we thing they will.

Romans 8:28

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

           

      “According to His purpose.” We may not see the good in our current circumstances but God has prepared the way. Not all things are good, but God can bring good from all things! One of my favorite quotes is by Edwin Cole, “Yesterday’s dung, is tomorrow’s fertilizer.” So very true!

James 1:3-4

New Living Translation (NLT)

³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

           

      Another great promise! If we allow our faith to grow through challenges and trials, we will build endurance; something we all need! One version uses the word “character” the testing of our faith builds character, I find that so encouraging.

           

     When gold is put into the fire all the dross or “junk” comes to the top, it is like that with our faith life. When we go through trials, “fires” all the junk that lies underneath comes to the surface. This is so important because it gives us an opportunity to take that junk to the Lord, and lay it at his feet; to take that “dung” and use it to grow!

Psalm 3:3

The Message (MSG)

But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high

     I love that so much! There have been many days that this verse has been my anthem! When I feel overwhelmed and frustrated I just stop and say a simple prayer; “Father, I thank you that you shield me on all sides, protecting me! Thank you for grounding my feet no matter what is going on. And thank you that because of the sacrifice on the cross I can lift my head high.” It strengthens me, and reminds me that God has me in his hands.

     I pray that each of us be encouraged through our day, that we would remember, overwhelming victory is ours, because God will work things together for his good. Allowing our faith to build endurance and character, while shielding us, grounding our feet and lifting our head high!