7 Memory Verses to Change a Victim to a Victor
April 30, 2007
Dear Friends,
We would like to discuss seven memory verses which can help change you from a victim in Christ to a victor in Christ.
The biggest obstacle to transforming ourselves into a victor in Christ is our thinking. A victorious believer can see the same set of facts as a victim, but see them in a whole new light. Take the Children of Israel coming into the Land as a prime example of this. One group, Joshua and Caleb, see a land for the taking. They are excited about prospect of possessing this beautiful land flowing with milk and honey. More importantly, they see God giving them this land. There is nothing left to chance. He has promised it to them. Failure is not an option. It is theirs.
We all know from our Sunday school lessons that there were 10 dissenting opinions to Joshua and Caleb. These men did not see themselves as victors, but victims. They saw a beautiful, but unattainable land. It was full of giants and fortified cities. Each group was working with their own set of “facts.” If we take God out of the equation, both had equally compelling arguments. Of course, we can’t take God out of the equation.
God has given us the blueprint for successful living now. If we faithfully follow God’s plan for us as outlined in the Bible, we can live without worry, stress, fear, lying to ourselves, anger, and depression and instead experience better relationships with people and experience true peace.
We will suggest to you that these seven simple memory verses can point you on the way to a life of victory. I would encourage everyone to memorize these verses if you have not done so already so that you can recall them in your time of need.
Principle #1—The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
Ironically, one of the most basic of all truths is that everybody lies to themselves. We tell ourselves that things should be a certain way and they aren’t, so we suffer.
A little game I will play with young people sometime is the “If you were God” game. If God gave you all of His power for one day, what would you do? The inevitable answers usually cluster around these thoughts: “I would get rid of hunger”, “I would make the Kingdom come”, “I would get rid of death”, “I would stop people from sinning”, “I would clean up the environment.” The right answer to the question is “I would do NOTHING different.” Why is that the correct answer? Because if we truly believe that God is all good, all- powerful and all-knowing, He could make those things happen today if He wanted. Yet, in His wisdom, God allows all of those things to continue on today. Somehow all of this madness is working toward His goal for this earth. When we think that we know better than God, we are acting foolishly. Yet, this is exactly what we do everyday when we wish for things to be different than they are.
One of the most practical things to do is to question our thoughts. Is what we are telling ourselves true? Does what we say match the Scriptures? Is the thought causing us emotional pain or joy?
Often, the lies we tell ourselves are so subtle or partially true that we cannot see them any other way. Sometimes we confuse the principle with reality. For example, we might tell ourselves that believers should live godly lives. This is true. The Bible says it. On the other hand, it is equally true, if not more so, that those who profess to be believers all too often act in inappropriate ways. This is our present reality.
The real truth is that WE should act appropriately according to Scripture. That is all that we can control. We can encourage, help, pray for and preach to other people all the while providing them a good example in our own lives, but we know that people will fall short (as will we). The key is not to get disillusioned when other people fail because they “should” do better.
Do not confuse being a realist with being a cynic. Also, do not confuse being a realist with accepting any less than the ideal set forth in Scripture. Just remember that in setting forth the ideal, none of us will reach it this side of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We should hold a high standard for ourselves and be as merciful as God will allow to everyone else. Don’t lower God’s standard; lift people up so that they can attain it and forgive them when they don’t.
Victims in Christ get down and out because they don’t want the land to be filled with giants. They wish the giants weren’t there. Victors in Christ know that reality is whatever God says reality is. If God says the land is theirs, they could care less about walled cities and giants. They may lie to themselves, but God is faithful and will never lie. They can always put their confidence in Him and His faithfulness.
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).” (Heb 10:23 )
Have a great week,
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