Thursday, May 10, 2007

"Having Victory"

An anonymous person left a comment on one of my posts that left me puzzled. It was "that's what's important...'having victory.'" Now, I'm not sure if this was a sincere comment, or a tad bit on the sarcastic side. I mention "having victory" a lot in my blog. It's an important concept to me; in my walk and in my struggles with my health issues. Regardless of the heart of "anonymous," I feel that it's important for us to discuss just what "having victory" means in our lives. Here is my perspective:
We all stumble in life, and we are constantly presented with situations in which we can skillfully screw up. But God doesn't want us to be defeated, He wants us to be victorious. What does that mean, and how can we be victorious? We can "have victory" because Jesus Christ has given us a new life. "Having victory" means doing the right thing, the Jesus thing, the thing that we may or may not want to do to achieve HIS end.
It doesn't mean winning over others.
It doesn't mean fighting until you are "right" or you beat out someone else.
It means doing the thing that is pleasing to Him...and maturing to us.

What do YOU think?

11 comments:

Missy said...

Karen, I use that statement to mean very much the same as you.

I am learning that fighting to be "right" is in contention with my idea of being victorious.

Chris Ledgerwood said...

To me gaining victory goes back to my church upbringing. It was used so much the the phrase lost it's power. I think having victory is being calm and present with yourself during timesof struggle. My father died of cancer,but I believe he still maintained his composure/victory during his illness. Some would say that the victory would only come through his complete physical healing. I disagree.

karen said...

Missy, yep. Wish I could see you this weekend!

Chris, yes...I agree with you 100%. Your dad was victorious....plus he left a wonderful legacy!

pearlie said...

I checked the bible and found that the word "victory", at least the English word only occured 5 times in the New Testament. And it has to do in relation with death. Particularly here in 1 Cor:

1Co 15:54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
1Co 15:55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the victory that Jesus talked about it unlike that of the world but of the resurrection of Christ. If we died with him, buried with him and raised with him, then we have the victory.

And I believe in being foolish for Christ.

1Co 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

I learnt something today. Thanks!

karen said...

so did we, pearlie! Thanks! :-)

Anonymous said...

It means, first and foremost, as you expressed, getting rid of EGO. It's a totally different kind of victory that we speak of.

Kevin Knox said...

Amen to everyone.

Victory is the moment when a part of my heart that has been in rebellion against God falls, and I am more completely His. The easy things were conquered a long time ago, so the stuff that's left is really dug in deep as a tick. When the Spirit wins out over one of those, the victory is worth it all.

kc bob said...

I like what Osteen says: it is living life as a victor not a victim. It is so easy for me to play the victim and not engage faith to persevere and overcome ... but I guess that is what life is about :)

Joe said...

I thought both of the following comments to your post "Psychos and fear...." were interesting.

"Maybe you should apologize to him."

"That's what it's all about... having victory."

Unless you did something for which you should apologize, I don't recommend apologizing. Forgiving and moving on... yes.

I think Anonymous was referring only to the conflict over the overhanging tree but I'm not sure I see "victory" as either party’s objective. Perhaps the discussion between you and your neighbor leading to a tree trimming agreement included too many assumptions. Perhaps he assumed everything overhanging the fence would be removed while you assumed that the usual trimming of limbs below 12 to 15 feet would be acceptable. If this were the case, when the neighbor saw the contractor stop at 12-15 feet he might have "assumed" that the contractor misunderstood your instructions or that you had reneged on the agreement. Whatever the cause, the neighbor apparently over-reacted.

Perhaps you can discuss this matter with him in the not too distance future when he has had a chance to cool down. If this was only a misunderstanding of the scope of the trimming then he might welcome the explanation. Explanation… not apology.

I, too, would not want the tree trimmed all the way up. However, since it is done, arguing now that it is excessive may only ensure that you two stay at odds over this and everything that transpires between you in the future.

Good Luck

karen said...

Thanks Don, and CP and KB...great input.
Joe, yeah...those were interesting comments...
What happened was that I offered to have the lower 3 branches taken---the branches HE pointed out to me. When the tree guys came, he never spoke to me face to face, but told the tree guys then that he wanted it all the way up. There he is, talking to the people I've contracted....and when I called him to tell him that that might harm my tree, that's when the rage started.
I haven't spoken to him since, don't intend to unless he initiates it. I had nothing to apologize for, but I'm not going to antagonize him or rehash anything. Thanks!
I've appreciated all the input!! You guys are all a wonderful resource. You all remind me not to rip this guy's head off ! :-)

Mark D said...

You hit the nail on the head in my opinion. Great definition!