Recognize that God has made every a believer an overcomer through Christ. Paul wrote, "For our sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Rom. 8:36,37) Thank God for giving you a new identity as an overcomer of sin, death, and hell.
Application: Trust the Lord to help you appropriate all the aspects of your new nature to conquer any challenging circumstance, person or problem.
2. Study the lifestyles of great overcomers throughout the Bible such as Paul the apostle. Here was a man who lived most of his Christian life attacked, oppressed and threatened by all kinds of evil forces, but successfully overcame all things through Christ. Paul wrote,
"As sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and yet possessing all things." (2 Cor. 6:10)
Paul knew that Christians have to be able to live with the perplexing quandaries of irony. Even though many circumstances made it appear that Paul lived most of his life as a defeated, dejected and discouraged person, inwardly he was able to remain an overcomer of all problems through Christâs power.
Application: Trust the Lord to help you follow the example of Paul the apostle who successfully saw through the ironic adversities to become better rather than embittered.
3. Follow the formula given in scripture in utilizing the power of goodness in overcoming any form of evil. Paul wrote, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21) The Lord inspired Paul to write that promise that good will always triumph over evil ö every time and in every situation.
Application: If you ever feel yourself doubting that good will win out meditate on this wonderful promise. Trust the Lord to help you to overcome evil by initiating good in every conversation, assignment and thought.
4. Call upon the Lord within you to help you overcome whatever is challenging you to give in to the worries, riches, pleasures, troubles or temptations of this world. John wrote, "Greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world." (I John 4:4) God is greater than ANY problem.
Application: Stop doubting and call upon the Lord through a song, a prayer or a reference to scripture that reminds you of Godâs omnipotence. Trust the Lordâs mighty power to be bigger than any of your doubts, temptations or self-destructive desires.
5. Remember Jesus Christ the greatest overcomer. Jesus said, "In this world you have tribulations, but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Whenever you feel like giving in to your subjective feelings of discouragement, hate or apathy, remember that Christ paved the way for you to overcome any problem 100% of the time. Just as Christ conquered sin, through the power of the Holy Spirit you are able to fight the good fight of faith and come out a champ.
6. Let the Lord fight the battles for you ö stop trying to conquer your obsessive ö compulsive desires in your own strength and wisdom. Zeph. 3:17, "Not by power or by might, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts." Too many people fail to grow up in to all aspects in Christ because they are trying to be successful in human terms with man made strength and cunning.
Application: Trust the Lord to empower, enable and inspire you to do everything God wants you to do with the help of Christ who gives you the strength and power. (Phil. 4:13 Living Bible)
7. Work cooperatively with Godly leaders and members of the body of Christ who can help complement your gifts, callings and abilities. Stop trying to conquer your difficulties all by yourself. Too many Christians stumble and fall or get off on tangents because they refuse to work cooperatively with other members of the body of Christ. Paul wrote,
"The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you No, more more those membes of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." (I Cor. 9:21,22)
Application: Never overlook the importance of cooperative service with other members of the body of Christ who are mutually seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Trust the Lord to lead you to people with a like heart, like mind and with similar goals to make a significant contribution to the fulfillment of the great commission and the great commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8. Remember that failure is never final and success is never ending. In other words, if you have fallen short on a few occasions do not get discouraged ö the righteous man falls seven times a day but rises again Solomon wrote.
Application: If you have succeeded remember that there are still many more battles yet to fight. Never rest on your laurels. Trust the Lord to help you to remember to treat successes and failures alike; as temporary experiences.
9. Have a regular time of prayer and scriptural devotions so that your strength, vision and mind are renewed every morning. Jesus said, "Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt 26:41)
Application: Trust the Lord to help you to discipline yourself for the purpose of Godliness so that you are ready for any eventuality.
