Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Everyone enjoys winning. There are not hall of fame speeches given by perpetual losers. We do not erect statues to those who have underachieved and failed. The world likes a “winner.” As children of God we’ve been promised a life of victory. We sing “On the Victory Side”, but more than a song, that is to be our life’s theme. I am convinced that many Christians trudge through life defeated. They have abundant life, but they are abundantly missing out on it! Why is this? I think it is because we’ve failed to realize the principle that victory comes before the battle.
If you live any length of time in this world, you will have battles to fight. Big battles, probably, but daily, small battles will come your way. We constantly war with our flesh, the devil, and the world around us. How can we be winners in the battles of life? It’s simply. Win the victory for the upcoming battles before they begin.
In the Bible passages that we noted at the top of this devotion, we see a common theme. That theme is connected to prayer. Prayer is the predecessor to victory in the battles of life. Jeremiah declares to us that God will do “great and mighty things” in connection to our prayers. In the beginning of Acts, we find the followers of Christ corporately praying and in response to their prayers they won a great victory on the day of Pentecost. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but God does, and prayer is simply you and I talking to our Heavenly Father.
We desire a thriving ministry, but prayer must precede. We want to live holy, then prayer must be practiced. We long to see souls saved; we better be found in prayer for souls. Victory is not won in the battle, it will be won before it begins. Stay active in your prayer closet. Pray without ceasing. Be a winner by being a faithful, fervent prayer warrior! Victory comes before the battle.
Justin Cooper | Assistant Pastor
North Valley Baptist | Santa Clara, CA
