How To Live in Victory

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." ~ Matthew 7:24-25

I am so thankful that God has given us everything we need to live a victorious Christian life! He has already made a way for us. Now it's up to us to do our part.

So what is our part?

First of all, we need to know the Word. It gives us instructions for life. It tells us how to live, how to act, how to treat people. It helps us with relationships. It teaches us what God expects from us. It reminds us of how valuable we are to Him. It contains promises that are ours and equips us for the battles in our lives. It is impossible to truly experience the abundant life that God has for us without knowing the Word.

However, it's not enough to just know the Word. We have to obey the Word! We have to apply it to our lives. We are instructed in James 1:22 to be "doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." If we know the Word but fail to put it into practice, we are not promised victory or success.

Probably every single one of us have been hurt by someone during our lifetime. We can choose to walk in unforgiveness and hold on to all the bitterness and anger. If we do that, we are not obeying the Word. The Word clearly tells us we must forgive others. Instead of going around talking about them or trying to cause them pain, the Word tells us we are to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Wow, that can be hard, can't it?

If we're facing problems and we become worried and fearful, we're not trusting in the Word. Philippians 4:7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

If we look back at our scripture in Matthew 7:24-25, it clearly tells us that storms will come. However, it also tells us that if we hear the Word and DO what it says, those storms will not destroy us! We will be able to stand strong in the midst of whatever comes our way! We are not left defenseless against the trials that come into our lives. The key to living in victory is knowing the Word and walking in obedience to it.

If you don't study the Word on a daily basis, I encourage you to make it part of your daily life. It will transform your life more than you could ever imagine! You will gain strength and wisdom and things that come into your life will be easier to face. God wants you to live in victory every day of your life. He has given you what you need. His Word contains the answers to every test that you will have to take during this life. Go into this new year with a new determination to make the Word a priority in your life!