"But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ..."
2Cor2:12
You ever feel like your Christian life is full of defeat and setback? When things are going wrong it’s easy to point things out. But to have victory in your marriage, your church, at work or school takes two essential ingredients.
1. Training
Can you imagine a sports team that didn’t train? What would you give their chances to win a championship?
In 1Sam 17 we read about David and Goliath. We get inspired to face the "Goliath’s" in our life (fear, sin, relationships, etc.) only to find out that those challenges were too great for us! Where did David get the faith to have victory over Goliath? How come God gives him victory but I keep falling flat on my face?
The answer is that David trained himself:
But David said to Saul, "your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off sheep from a flock, I went after it, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them..."
1Sam 17 :34-36
Before David defeated Goliath he defeated the bear and the lion. 1 Tim 4 verse 7 says "train yourself to be godly". Godliness is more than a decision, it must be trained. Are you trainiing yourself to be committed? In prayer? To the church? Without training there is no victory.
Practically: set daily and weekly goals in areas that you are trying to change. At the end of the month assess yourself on your growth.
2. Teamwork
What would you rather have: a sports team with talented but selfish individuals or a cohesive selfless group? We all know the answer. We have all dreamed about being a part of a great team. Whether in sports, at school, at work or in the church. Teamwork brings victory. Committed teamwork is the only thing that has ever brought about change in our world.
"Though one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken"
Ecclesiastes 4:12
King David had many "team-mates" working with him to be successful in his realtionship with God. 1Samuel chapter 23 verse 16 says that "Johnathan helped David find strength in the Lord". Who are your spiritual teammates? Are there people helping you find strength in God? Or are you trying to do it by yourself? If so, how’s it going? If your read the story of David’s life you’ll see that he inspired much loyalty because he himself was loyal. If you want to have victory you must learn to work with people to achieve victory.
practically: be devoted to the fellowship. prioritize the meetings of the body and cultivate spiritual relationships.
