Day 73: Be a Winner

Reading: Psalm 33:12-22

When we face life's trivial battles and hardships, David tells us to put full reliance in Christ. Winners put God at the forefront and find their strength in Him. When we rely on our own strength and will, we fall fast, focusing on ourselves and not the direction of God. Those who rely on His love and fear Him, will find strength to face the hardships of daily life. If we place our hope in people, in things and in ourselves, we will be left broken and hurt. But when we place complete hope and trust in Christ, and allow Him to envelop us in His unfailing, unconditional love, we will be filled with light and strength to press on.


Reading: Luke 1:26-38

Jesus is the common denominator to Christians. We all share His Name, His existence, and His sacrifice in common. Though we share this amazing, all-powerful factor, we still fight and battle with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We fight about theology, about paint colors, coffee offers in church, pews, songs...whatever we feel convicted about. Our conviction should be to fight for Jesus, however. This amazing, loving, powerful, example came to us as a humble, tiny baby. What does that tell us about winning our battles? He came to save the lost, not to pick battles with believers. This commonality we share needs to be the bottom line and the only major battle we put up with fellow believers. The rest will fall into place. When we have the love of God in us, we will fight for others to know that love, not to know our music preference, or color preference, or what version of the Bible you stand by. Choose your battles with love and humility, placing Jesus at the front.


Reading: Numbers 1:1-2:9

We continue to see the history of the Israelite people. These are a people brought out of the hardship of Egypt, to the trials of the wilderness and then to an established society. We see the work God has done in a through them. Throughout Leviticus, we see the people strive for holiness in offering sacrifices and reading of the customs they needed to follow to be a set apart people in the name of The Lord. In Numbers, we read about the preparation for battle. God raised up leaders in this society that listened to Him and longed to follow His direction. Listening to God raises up leaders to follow Him. Raising up leaders empowers people. The question you face when looking into the eyes of life's battles is who are you listening to, and who are you following? What kind of a leader are you setting yourself up to be? When trials come, be empowered by Him.


Life will come with battles. They are inevitable in a broken, fallen world, filled with broken, fallen people. How will you choose your battles? Who do you look to for your strength and hope? Winning at life is taking those battles in stride and knowing how to handle them as a follower of Christ.