“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21 NIV)
We are overcomers and more than conquerors through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. The Bible says that we have been made more than conquerors and have gained a surpassing victory through Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. We have been made new creations in Christ. God has put His Spirit on the inside of us to reveal to us all that He has already done for us through Jesus Christ and to give us direction in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit will speak to us and give us direction through God’s Word.
The first thing we will have to do in order to live an overcoming life-style is to lay down our own plans and desires. We will have to deny ourselves and become followers of Jesus. He gave His body as a living sacrifice for us. We have been bought with a price, His broken body and His shed blood. Jesus is the express image of the Father, and we are to follow in His footsteps. The number one goal of a Christian should be to become more like Jesus. To follow Jesus and become like Him, we must be willing to forget about what we want and trust Him to show us what His will is for us. As we surrender our lives to God, the Holy Spirit will teach us what we need to know and empower us to do it. The Holy Spirit will empower us to live as overcomers when we continually surrender ourselves to God and His plan for our lives.
We must seek God in prayer and His Word everyday. Prayer is simply talking to God and listening to Him. Prayer will keep us connected to God. Communicating with God brings us into an intimate relationship with Him. As we seek God in prayer, He will equip, strengthen and help us in every area of our lives. When we spend time reading, studying and meditating on God?s Word, His thoughts will become ours. As our thinking changes, so will our words and actions. We will be changed, little by little, by the renewing of our minds. Spending time with God, seeking Him through prayer and His Word, enables us to live as overcomers.
The Bible says that we are to be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love. First John 4:16 (AMP) says, “God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God and God dwells and continues in him.” Love needs to be the main focus in our lives. The Amplified Bible defines love as true affection for God and man growing out of God?s love for and in us. God?s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love people. We show Jesus to the world by walking in love. We should live by the golden rule, treating others the way we want to be treated. We can learn about the God kind of love by reading, studying and meditating on the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. This chapter teaches us that love is patient, not quick-tempered or easily angered. Love is kind and endures long. Love is not easily offended, touchy or resentful. Love does not hold grudges or pay back evil for evil. Love forgives and disregards the offenses of others. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. Love is not rude or self-seeking. Love puts others first. Love gives, listens and encourages. Love always believes the best about people. Love always builds up and never tears down. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love never hurts anyone. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
God wants us to walk in love with our thoughts, words and actions. Walking in love is critical for our relationship with God and essential for an effective prayer life. Our faith will not work without love, because love is the force that energizes our faith. Walking in love does not mean that we should become a doormat for others. Sometimes love has to be tough. Allowing people to use or abuse us does not help them. The Bible tells us to guard and keep ourselves in the love of God. Satan fights the love walk more than anything else. He knows that he cannot defeat a child of God that dwells in God’s presence by living a life of love. We should ask God to teach us to love people the way He wants us to and to help us grow and mature in love. The Holy Spirit will teach us and empower us to walk in God?s love. The life of love always overcomes evil with good.
Living by faith is the only way we can live our lives pleasing to God. Faith is a union of belief and trust. The Amplified Bible describes faith as the leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness. God has given to every believer the measure of faith. We must develop that faith by spending time in the Word of God. We learn to trust God as we get to know Him and as we experience His love and faithfulness. Our heavenly Father does not want us to worry or be afraid. We should pray about everything and cast our care on Him. The presence and power of Almighty God is within us, we have nothing to fear. He promised that all things will work together for good for those that love and obey Him. He will even bring good from the things the devil means for harm in our lives. Satan cannot win when we stand firm in our faith. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I know You have a wonderful purpose and plan for my life. I surrender my life to You. I want to become more like Jesus. Thank You for growing me up into the image of Jesus as I continually yield myself to You. Thank you for empowering me to live as an overcomer.”
“In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Pat Gray