Could You Define Winning?

Webster’s defines winning as: having a victory. 

Victory is defined as: overcoming an enemy, or having success in a struggle against great odds or difficulties. 

Did you catch that? The victory comes when we overcome. 

Overcome what? Great odds and difficulties.  It's not a question of if, but when.    

When the trials come, Webster's isn't gonna be much help. No, this kind of help comes only from God's Word. We find great comfort in the sovereignty of God when we face trials. For example, did you know ... 

• You were chosen before the foundation of the earth. (Ephesians 1:4)

 

• Before God formed you in the womb, He knew you. (Jeremiah 1:5)

• He created you for specific good works. (Ephesians 2:10)

• You were uniquely fashioned by God to walk in those good works. (Romans 12:6)

At birth, everyone receives natural abilities and strengths but only believers receive spiritual gifts. When you accepted Christ, you received at least one spiritual gift. The spiritual gifts you received were chosen specifically for you according to the good works also chosen for you before the foundation of the earth. 

In receiving these gifts and abilities, you can choose to set them aside in disappointment and pursue something that looks better; you can neglect them because of fear or laziness; you can develop them for your own personal gain; or you can cultivate and practice them as offerings back to God. 

When you choose to acknowledge everything you have been given (your abilities, strengths, talents, health, wealth, and physical attributes) were given to you by God’s design and according to His purpose, then you will learn to trust His heart. When we learn to trust God’s heart, we learn to obey Him. 

So, to answer the question we started with, winning can be defined as: choosing to accept the sovereignty of God. With trembling knees, we fix our eyes on Jesus, and we follow Him. For His glory. That's winning. 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10