Conquering: March 11, 2013

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MARCH 11, 2013.

CONQUERING

DEFINITION:

To acquire by force of arms; to overcome by force; win at war; to gain or win by effort.

SCRIPTURE:

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Do you have a conquering spirit? What we mean is when you face the issues of life, both those that are negative and those that are positive; do you face them with the confidence that you are going to be a conqueror?

Paul was a man with a conquering spirit and we can learn from him. Throughout his ministry he faced countless obstacles just as believers do today but he never gave up. He pictured the Christian life as a race. His nature was to be competitive and that drove him to be a conqueror. As believers today we need to develop a spiritual desire of competitiveness so we can conquer the tough situations the world presents to us. If we hope, as Paul did, to finish well we need to develop the following characteristics.

We need COURAGE: A conquering spirit is willing to risk failure. We naturally want to always feel strong and capable, but we will not always feel strong. At times we will feel very weak. God delights in empowering us in our weaknesses so He can get the glory.

We need CONFIDENCE: We are likely to stumble when we doubt our ability to do what God requires. When our confidence is placed in the Lord instead of ourselves, we can move ahead with confidence, knowing that God will enable us to do His will. There are many examples given us in the scriptures of weak men that God used to do great things.

We need COMMITMENT: The Lord promises to guide us as we run the race. That means as we face a need that needs to be conquered, God will provide for us whatever is needed, and will strengthen us all along the way. But for God to do this we must be committed to Him and determined to carry out His will, without doubt or fear.

We need PERSISTENCE: The road we are traveling on in this life is full of distractions, oppositions, and obstacles that tempt us to give up. That is why the apostle Paul advises us to “press on” through adversity toward that which is of eternal life (verse 14).

We need a FORWARD FOCUS: We must also forget what lies behind us and we must reach forward to what lies ahead. Those of us that weighed down by baggage from the past lose sight of the goal.

The key to success in our race in life is an all consuming desire to reach the goal. If we find no value in the prize, we will readily give up along the way and settle for the immediate gratification the world offers. If we understand what awaits us at the finish line in heaven, we will press on and be a conqueror in life.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:

Give me today a conquering spirit that you alone can give. Help me to meet Your requirements so that I can conquer every situation I face today. Give me the leadership with my family and friends so that they will see in me a conquering spirit that only You can give.