Yesterday’s Defeat Is Tomorrow’s Victory!

Yesterday's Defeat Is Tomorrow's Victory speaks to the divine resolution we make to determine our purpose. It involves choosing whether to remain in our yesterdays or step into our tomorrows when God places us at a crossroads in life. A road that splits into two can symbolize our perceived separation from God. When we walk down such a road, we face a choice to turn right or left. If it is truly a God-crossroad, we may find our guidepost at the intersection, revealing that only one road leads to Christ: faith, truth, love, and unity. Christ is easily recognized as the guidepost, providing direction to those on the road of life. A crossroads is an opportunity from God to find our way to the cross. It is a place of decision that shapes the course of our lives.

As you read Yesterday's Defeat Is Tomorrow's Victory, you'll see how God's Word can help us conquer life's difficulties, complemented by my personal stories of triumph. Many individuals remain captive--physically, emotionally, and spiritually--clinging to their yesterdays, hesitant or afraid to embrace change and the unknown. Their minds, hands, and feet seem shackled by past chains such as generational curses, unhealthy soul ties, abuse, unforgiveness, and pride. They often avoid stepping into their future, fearing the fallout, and settle for a life that falls short of their God-given purpose, accepting whatever the world offers, even when it's unbearable. Meanwhile, they suffer ongoing attacks and invasions from the enemy instead of building on their future victories. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

As the Church, we must awaken and realize that the devil's greatest fear is our "future!" He trembles at the thought of true believers awakening from the defeat of the past, recognizing their identity in Christ Jesus, and recalling that God has given us authority and power to conquer evil. This victorious stance terrifies the enemy, making him ineffective and paralyzing his efforts. The devil is not all-knowing and does not always know when a genuine believer will rise and step into their Promised Land, which is on the other side of the cross.

Once we grasp this, we will cease dwelling on or longing for our previous life. God's true purpose is to shape the Body of Christ into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. As members of His body, we must allow God to work on the whole person--spirit, soul, and body. The LORD starts with us exactly as we are. We, as the Body of Christ, need to move beyond various circumstances and situations in life, break free from repetitive cycles, and refuse to stay stuck in the same mindset, held back by the enemy of our past. Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and destroy. I alone came so that you might have life in abundance." So, let us cast off every weight and sin that entangles us, with patience run the race set before us, and focus our eyes on Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of faith--Him who matures our faith.

-- Gloria J. Perkins