Comprehensive Victory

UV 785/10,000 Comprehensive Victory With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32 v 8 In a recent post on Facebook, two photographs of the former Mr Universe, Arnold Schwarzenegger are seen side by side, one of a younger Arnold, bristling with muscles and another more recent one of the aging Arnold with a visibly sagging torso and chest. It had the message below: “nothing is permanent”. When we rely on the strength of our arm or power or position, it is cursed to diminish and fail. But the strength and power of the Lord released on our behalf is eternal and sufficient. He will help us in our every situation against all odds. He will fight our battles and win the war for us. Victory is certain though it may not be in sight today. The Lord is concerned not only that we win against our external foes and enemies but also against our inner weaknesses and temptations. For us, our priority is the former while for the Lord, His priority is the latter. Like a burning candle’s wick soaks up in the melting wax and by capillary action drives it to feed the flame, we need to soak ourselves in the strength of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength- this means that what gives pleasure or delight to the Lord should give us joy and prompt us to do that habitually and consistently. What gives pleasure to the Lord is our delighting in His Word and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and in our doing the bidding of the Lord. The people who were fearful of their powerful foes rested themselves on the words of their king. Similarly, we too must rest in the assurance that our King Jesus has given us that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He would help us. He would fight our battles for us. Recognizing the limitations of human strength and power as well as the unlimited strength and power of God, believing and trusting in His willingness to help and deliver us and knowing that He will fight our battles for us and wrest victory for us is what makes us more than conquerors. For as we rest in His Word, we have conquered the inner enemy-our inner weaknesses, the external enemy- the enemy of our soul- satan as well as the human foes and adversaries that satan sets up against us. As we rest in His Word like a candle feeds on the melting wax, we will overcome our fear of death and punishment, fear of failure and defeat, fear of loss and shame, fear of both the known and the unknown, the visible and the invisible. Prateep V Philip