I have always been sort of a history buff. I enjoy reading about the history of the
places we’ve visited, about United States history and especially the story of
the area in which we live. Our recent
move to North Carolina has opened up an entirely new wealth of information to
devour! Yesterday I happened across a
couple of books written about the history of the county we now live in. So I immediately purchased a Kindle version
of one and ordered a used copy of the other.
Later in the afternoon my wife and I, along with the pooch snuggled next
to me on the couch, found ourselves in our study being regaled with
descriptions of the county’s geographic treasures, abundance of waterways, and
tales of early discovery. It is evident
that our small county was large in its contributions to our budding country!
Over the years, I have also become a history buff when it
comes to the history of the Lord’s works in my wife, my family and in me. As we continue to move forward in discovery
of the new things that He desires for us to accomplish in our lives, I can’t
help but to go back in our personal history to be regaled by His wondrous
interventions in our past. Many times
this historical perspective is the final incentive to boost my faith for the next, sometimes seemingly impossible step He is encouraging us to
take.
As I look back over the last month or so that I have been
walking through my morning study times with the Lord with the directive to “Man Up!” as my guide, I realize that
one particular set of verses keeps popping up in my daily notes, with the major
emphasis centering around the words of the Apostle Paul boldly declaring: “Now thanks be to God which always causes us
to triumph in Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:14 KJV) Then when I take that declaration as a filter
while reviewing my own life’s history, I can’t help but notice all the “victories” that overwhelmingly highlight
my story! Those victories are the keys
that help to enable my future.
I kind of like some of the words that the more modern God’s
Word © version uses in this verse. Here
the editorial team translated: “But, I thank
God, who always leads us in victory…”
Two words stand out to me as I study this statement. The first is that which underscores my
ability to “Man Up!” in this New
Year. It is the definitive declaration
of “ALWAYS!” I believe that the Apostle who wrote over
half of the New Testament was telling us of the importance of always having an
attitude of victory in every situation we face in our lives.
Previous to this statement he is telling his readers that
although he had an open door of ministry in a certain region, that he did not
have peace and was concerned because he couldn’t find his close friend and
ministry associate Titus. But that didn’t
deter him. He simply said good bye to
the people there and moved on into Macedonia.
The next verse tells us that he thanked God in the midst of his
difficulties and knew that he would eventually have the victory and find Titus.
In my striving to follow the Lord’s directions to “Man Up!”, I realized that I have to have
the expectation of victory in Christ in everything He calls me to do. I don’t go into a situation with the thought
of failure or second best… I continually look to Him for His victorious
conclusion.
The other word that stands out to me in 2 Corinthians 2:14
is “leads.” Therefore the key to always expecting a
victory is that we always follow His leading!
So… when we go into a situation our eyes are not dependent upon what we
see, hear or feel in the natural or on our own abilities to gain a victory or
successful conclusion to what’s before us, but that we are so intent looking
for, listening to and obeying His leadings that we can’t help but attain His
victory. As I sit here this morning with
my wife at my side at the dining room table with a view of our beautiful ¾ of
an acre piece of property that the Lord has blessed us with, I can’t help but
be amazed and somewhat astounded as I recall all of the victories that He had
gained for us as we have kept our eyes on His leadings over the last six plus
years.
And sure, it always hasn’t been easy or at times looked anything
like a victory, but our faithful stand in, by and through Him has seen His
vision come to fruition as we stuck to and obeyed the path He set out for us to
follow… many times within the sounds and
negative actions of naysayers. I
have also come to notice that I have a lot more self-confidence, peace, joy and
the corresponding strength that comes from His infillings of joy when I am
expectant of His victory!
I think that is the truth that motivated Paul to
encourage and enable the church at Philippi to “Always be joyful in the Lord, I’ll say it again: Be joyful!” (Philippians
4:4 God’s Word ©) So… what will history
record about you? When you look back
through the years of your life are you encourage and enabled by all the victories
you see? In case that’s not what
populates the pages of your past… the cool thing is that you can still write
your future by taking 2 Corinthians 2:14 to heart and make it a reality in your
life… STARTING TODAY!
So therefore have a great and encouraging day as you
continue to ask yourself… “What VICTORYS
in Christ am I expecting today?”
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