Fearlessly CourageousDesk of Dennis Piller5 29 2023
Click for Audio VersionCelebrating your Victories is a Lost Art – So is walking in joy!
What happened to our book of possibilities? Probabilities? Weren’t they called dreams, aspirations? Aren’t they built on our victories or at least our hopes? They can certainly be envisioned in our defeats and disappointments that help determine our resolve, that there must be a higher ground. But my victories do give me hope and vision for more. For that higher level of achievement and satisfaction. For that maturity that allows me to recognize, that Jesus walks with me, and the joy in that expression as I share that with those around me.
Where does your encouragement come from? PS 62:5 "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Is it still about you or the promise that comes from immersing your life in a vision bigger than just personal gains, personal accomplishments, recognition, and a quest for a bigger name or retirement account? What are we cherishing? What are we really living and striving for and what do we plan to leave behind?
What does remembering our victories do for us?
When is that light most needed if it isn't in the darkness during hard times when we feel alone maybe because we’ve wandered off or drifted away from God and others? Maybe it was just a season of heartache and heartbreaks, or mistakes. Possibilities don't go away because we encounter a deep chapter in our lives. In fact, that's when they come alive and shine their brightest. The contrast of light to dark is a true epiphany when our eyes are opened.Isaiah 9:1 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." I know you have had those epiphanies. But we need to make them more intentional. More of a routine than just heading off for one of those once-in-forever retreats where we get quiet for a while and listen to God and reconnect with the life of the spirit we are called to.A book of possibilities…A book of probabilities..NO…its more than that! It is a book of promises and covenants from God the Almighty and creator of all the universe! It is our standard, the light he calls us to shine upon a hill for the whole city to see. Matt 5:14 “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. EHV. You are the light of the world. It's called the Bible. The written word of God shows us how to navigate to the golden treasure of living a joyful and fulfilled life of victories in the midst of anything. Psalms 30:1-10 In-Context. "1 I give you all the credit, God – you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. 2 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. 3 God, you pulled me out of the grave, and gave me another chance at life when I was down and out".Whether you are that light shining in your own darkness or to those around you during their times of need. Maybe it is even more when the light of Christ is shining so great in you that it is unmistakable even in broad daylight. Even in the light of a life that is flowing with the fullness of Christ! It is a joy unspeakable. It is a power unsustainable outside of the Holy Spirit. I think it begins with remembering and celebrating our victories in Christ. Giving him the glory and the credit for all good things that come from the Father. James 1:17
He told us that as we grow in him. As the scales of the world are removed by His Spirit we discover not just the possibility or even the probability of joy…but JOY itself being the actual strength of the Lord in the heart of anytrial, tragedy, or travesty!
Celebrating truth. Marriage. Integrity. Love. Forgiveness. Grace, Character, Joy! And all of these are attributes of our God! So celebrating God with an overflowing joy of recognizing who He is, What He is, and what He has done is our highest calling because He is our greatest victory. His Book is one far from just possibilities or probabilities…but as far as the East is from the West.Ps 103: 1 His is the Victory of Calvary…The Victory of the Resurrection… It is the hope for every one of us to proclaim the victory that Paul spoke of in Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain". The knowledge and truth of that can be celebrated in our lives as we die to ourselves as he did on Calvary, knowing with full assurance that we will be raised with Jesus again not for a season but an eternity. Is that not something to celebrate every morning we wake up?…at the cusp of every abyss we encounter,? in the middle of the worst storm on the Seas of Galilee? Not just every morning but living in and bathing in the truth of His Victories…His blood Covenant with us! Celebrating our Wins…is grounded in Jesus, not in the occasion of some personal achievement or big win or accomplishments unless we stop and point to heaven as you see that football star celebrate after he crosses the finish line. He points up and says. To YOU be the Glory Lord. Thank YOU lord for this victory. You are the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega the bright and morning star. Rev 22:13
When we grow by His Spirit to see the truth of His victories in our lives then we will bring a level of celebration and joy the world has never seen. So we wait for his final appearance, bathed in the brilliance of His own splendor. ……Fall to your knees with me. Humble yourself before the King. Take on the truth of His covenant with us…and celebrate Jesus! Sit here awhile…and let his Spirit saturate you until the scales of your eyes are removed and you can see the victories!
Casting Crowns – Great Are You Lord (Live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcuiuIwtpa4
