A New Beginning... From “Victim” to “Victor”
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; When you walk through the fire you will not get burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” ~~ Isaiah 43:1-3 (ESV)
What a promise of hope that God gives us in this scripture! It's a promise that no matter what we are facing today, if we put our trust and hope in Him, we will overcome!
Trials come when we least expect them. Suddenly our world is turned upside down. When that happens, what do you do? Where do you turn for hope and healing? Will you believe and hold fast to His Word? No matter how dark of a valley you are in or how deep of a pit you're in, God promises that you WILL NOT be overwhelmed, or consumed, or burned even a little bit by the circumstances. Hallelujah!
This is a message of comfort, hope, and truth to you and all those who are hurting, broken, and see no way out of their deep, dark pit.
Today, sweet friend, this can be a new beginning for you. It is a paradigm shift from believing that you are a “victim” to actually seeing yourself become a “victor” and a conqueror! This happens when we trust in Him. Ask yourself this question: “Do I really want to begin afresh and overcome?” If your answer is a resounding YES, then read on to see how you can begin your transformation from victim to victor.
You Can Have a Fresh New Start! ...
You may be asking yourself, “But how? My marriage has fallen apart, my finances are in a mess, and my child is rebelling and turning away from the Lord.”
Maybe you just got news that a friend died, or maybe you are completely exhausted, saddened by your circumstances, or overwhelmed - even fearful of what may come! Whatever your “crisis” may be, Jesus is the healer of ALL suffering and sorrow! His Word in Isaiah reminds us that, no matter what, He IS our Savior. He tells us that we have been redeemed! He knows us personally. He loves us unconditionally, and He calls us by name! His desire is to walk with us in our darkest valleys and change us from the inside out.
Are you willing to obey and trust Him in the process? This is a choice of your free will. Only you can make the decision that, starting today, life is not the “same old, same old.” You are victorious as a daughter or son that has already been redeemed from the pit and personally called by the Holy One of Israel. You should (and need to) praise and worship Him for this! God promises that in your darkness night and deepest pit of despair, even when you feel trapped, you will NOT be overtaken by evil. Instead you'll overcome ALL the work of the enemy. But how?
My only hope is that through reading this, God will reveal to you that He has you in position now, and that He has already begun a new work in your life. And God won't stop until you are complete in Him. This is a process called “sanctification." God is calling you to a higher place to trust Him in your moments of weakness, and in your darkest days. Will you make the choice to stand on His truth?
Don't Dread the Future ...
Sanctification is defined (ref: Wikipedia) as “the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy...” during which God burns out all that is not of Him.
The second part of this definition is profound, too, as we are being “set apart for a particular use in a special purpose or work and to make you holy or sacred.”
Are you ready to receive the paradigm shift for your life just by reading this second part of the definition? Clearly, God sets us apart! Why? Because He has for each of us a special and holy purpose.
These dark valleys, deep pits, uncontrollable circumstances, and trying times leave us exhausted, confused, weak, and (more often than we would like to admit) unable to pray. At times, we might be angry at God because of a particular circumstance and wonder why we had to go through such anguish of the soul. Have you ever wondered if God is the One Who has left you in such a predicament that you are unable to see your way out?
Think about the biblical story of Daniel. He was deliberately placed in a dark, dingy pit with a den of lions because he prayed to God. Imagine his natural inclination to want to fight for his very life. Daniel could have been overwhelmed and quite fearful. For sure he was not in control of the situation. I can only imagine the thoughts that raced through his mind as he entered that pit - what his natural eyes saw. There appeared to be no way out, and hungry lions surrounded him. But this is not the end of the story.
The Holy One of Israel, God - Daniel's Savior - saw something else; and the Bible gives Daniel's account: “God had sent an angel to close the jaws of the lions, because I was found blameless before him.” ~~ Daniel 6:22.
In this dark, dingy pit with real live lions all around Daniel chose to take hold of God's promise that he would not be overwhelmed, burned, or consumed by his circumstances, and that he would even be redeemed! And that is exactly what happened. The lions never touched him all night long.
Will you make the choice to believe with me that God is in control of your life? That through this very dark valley, He has chosen you to make you holy and sacred? That He, our faithful and loving God, has a wonderful purpose and a call on your life? That He will deliver you from harm? Will you choose Him? Will you believe?
First: Know That God Has Only GOOD In Store for You! ...
Yes, for you! For the GOOD that He has planned for you includes abundant blessings. He has joy, peace, and even miracles ready to come into your life! Get ready for a new day, a new time, and a brand new life! Let's read together the promise found in Isaiah:
“The former things, I declare of old; they went out from my mouth and I announced them; then suddenly I did them and they came to pass. Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass, I declare them to you from old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say: 'My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.' You have heard; now see all this; and will you declare it? From this time forth I announce to you knew things, hidden things that you have not known” ~~ Isaiah 48:3-6 (ESV).
Secondly: God Is FOR You, Not AGAINST You! ...
God will only lift you up and encourage you, never destroy you. Just stay close to Him, and allow Him to whisper directions and guidance from His Holy Spirit into your spirit. He will show you what your next step is to be.
“For he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions” ~~ Daniel 6:26-27 (ESV).
Finally, Become Like Putty in His Hands ...
Allow Him to mold and shape you into His image. How about it? Let's walk together on the same upward path toward Heaven. Sure, it is a narrow road; but it is so worth it to walk together with the Lord!
Pray With Me ...
Holy One, My Savior and my God, I am in midst of my darkest night and fiery pit. Right now I choose to trust that You have ordained this time in my life and that it is for my good. It definitely is not a good situation, but according to Romans 8:28, You will cause GOOD to come out of it for my benefit. Father, help me to accept this trial as Your work. Help me to understand that You are setting me apart, for a “special purpose or work and to make me holy and sacred.”
Prepare me for the call You have upon my life. Lord, allow me to see and hear with Your eyes and ears. This pit that I am in, I trust that You, the Holy One, My Savior, will deliver me from the mouth of the lion, redeem me, and sanctify my life! I thank You and praise You, for You are a good Father! Finally, I submit my very life into Your hands and surrender to Your way.
In Your precious and Holy Name, Jesus! Amen! So, Let It Be Unto Me!
Additional Scriptures ...
“Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared” ~ Exodus 23:20-23.
“But now, O Lord, you are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of your hand” ~ Isaiah 64:8 (ESV).
“For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and are the called according to His purpose” ~ Romans 8:28.
~Elizabeth Bowman