overcomers | Kristi's Morning Devotional

There are two phrases I have heard used quite frequently that are little disconcerting to me. In fact, in my prayer time this morning I used one as I was talking to the Father. I told Him I was feeling under the weather – I didn’t sleep well, I am achy in all my joints and there’s the tummy upset and indigestion.

I felt a prompting to ask you all to pray for me so that my body would be strengthened and I would have the energy I need for today.

I went to look for a picture to use with the blog today and was drawn to the one I took last night. Then it struck me how appropriate this image is.

It had been lightly raining most of the afternoon. The clouds were heavy and the wind currents had positioned them right over our campground. The sky was dark because the clouds were thick and blocked the sun’s light.

The Son is never gone, only briefly out of sight.

The other phrase that annoys me is “under the circumstances”. Have you ever asked someone how they’re doing and the answer comes back “pretty good under the circumstances”? I always want to ask “why are you under your circumstances”.

God’s word promises us that we have been made overcomers. That is a position of victory, a place that is over our circumstances.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” I John 5:4 ESV

Paul tells us this in Romans 8: “In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. ³⁸I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, ³⁹and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:37-39 CEV

We are overcomers and we are victorious in Christ.

If we are under anything let’s be under the shadow of the Almighty and under His wings of protection.

“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.
²Then you will say to the Lord, “You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God,
and I trust you.” ³The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. ⁴He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure.” Psalm 91:1-4 CEV

Never let the circumstances or the weather put you under.

The Father has set us as overcomers, living under His protection, in a place of security.

Sounds like a title for a movie, doesn’t it? Remember the Titans, Facing the Giants, Rudy – all of these movies were based on true stories, true circumstances and true victories.

I wonder what the movie writers would do with the children of Israel being held captive in Egypt. I know that years ago they cast Charlton Heston as Moses but what would the remake look like.

The casting call may read something like this. Needed: those who have felt oppressed, hopeless, overcome. If you have been looking for a way out of horrendous circumstances you’ll be perfect.

Do you remember a time when you felt completely helpless or oppressed, almost like you were a slave and had no rights of your own? The circumstances in your life were far from good and you couldn’t see things making a positive turn.

I’m sure that’s the way the Israelites must have felt in Egypt. Years and years in slavery. Conditions getting worse and worse. Even when their God appointed leader, Moses, showed up, things got worse. They were still making bricks and now they had to contend with a pharaoh that was ticked off by the plagues.

To add further to their oppression Pharaoh commanded that they must gather their own straw for making bricks.

“That same day the king gave orders to his slave bosses and to the men directly in charge of the Israelite slaves. He told them:

⁷Don’t give the slaves any more straw to put in their bricks. Force them to find their own straw wherever they can, ⁸but they must make the same number of bricks as before. They are lazy, or else they would not beg me to let them go and sacrifice to their God. ⁹Make them work so hard that they won’t have time to listen to these lies.” Exodus 5:6-9 CEV

Well, they survived their brick making duties, lived above the plagues, experienced the first Passover and then fled Egypt.

Now they are in the wilderness, headed for the Promised Land and Moses gives them this instruction.

“Don’t say in your heart, ‘These nations are stronger than we are. How can we force them out?’ ¹⁸You must not be afraid of them. You must remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the people of Egypt. ¹⁹You saw the great troubles he gave them and the amazing things he did. You saw the Lord use his great power and strength to bring you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use that same power against all the people you fear.” Deuteronomy 7:17-19 ERV

Remember the Egyptians!!!

I encourage you today – remember your Egyptians! God is still in control – He is still all powerful, all loving and His hand of protection and provision continue to reach out to you today.

“What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? ³²God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? ³³If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? ³⁴Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side,^[^e^] speaking to him for us. ³⁵Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? ³⁶It is exactly as the Scriptures say, “For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered.”

³⁷In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. ³⁸I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, ³⁹and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:31-39

Remember the Egyptians! They were no match for God.

The Lord fought for the Israelites and He is fighting for us. He loves us so deeply.

Remember the Egyptians!

All their horses, swords and skill were no match for the power of God.

Take heart, God is on your side!

Tag: overcomers

Under the Weather

Remember the Egyptians