May 2023
The Apostle John tells us, “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith”. (1 John 5:4)
The word “victory,” is simply another word for “WINNING.” Whether you realize it or not, winning is an attitude. Webster’s Dictionary defines the attitude as: a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior—a position of the body proper to or implying an action or mental state—the behavior a person either in good or positive manner, or a resentful and antagonistic manner.
Attitudes, not circumstances, make the difference for those who overcome, even in the toughest of situations. God made us to be winners. And we will be, if we choose to nurture an attitude that releases the power of God, instead of one that keeps us confined to fear and failure! Possibly the most powerful statement of victory in any volume written throughout history is the Apostle Paul’s declaration found in Philippians.
The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which—Who strengthens me.”
These words that Paul wrote here are not words from any great philosopher. They are the words that were carved from the life of experiences of a man who had lived by the power of God and had seen God deliver him from the most dangerous situations. Paul knew what the power of the Holy Spirit within him could and would do. Paul experienced God’s faithfulness time and time again to deliver him and it had shaped his perspective on life. This is why Paul could write as he did to the Church at Corinth.
Then Paul said in First Corinthians 2:1-5, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save (except) Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
Beyond any possible doubt, Paul had discovered where his strength came from. It came from the power and presence of God. Those who are winners in life understand the power of perspective. They have realized that the way you look at something can have a huge impact on whether you succeed or fail. Paul had learned to look at every obstacle from the perspective of the strength and power that was within him, which was the anointing of Jesus!
In Philippians 4:13 Paul makes an astounding statement, “I can do all things through Christ (the Anointed One and His Anointing) which strengthens me.”
Just like the Apostle Paul, you too can develop that winning attitude. You have God’s manual for success, it’s called the B-I-B-L-E! In God’s Word, He has given you the laws of the of the Spirit of Life that will direct you and help you develop the point of view and attitude which can make you the winner, God has called you to be. Your choice is whether or not you will develop a winning attitude.
YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE
A familiar saying instructs us that: “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Your attitude sets the pace for your success. One of Professional Golf’s greatest players—Arnold Palmer is reportedly reminded of this by the words on plaque hanging in his office:
“If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win but think you can’t, it’s almost certain you won’t. Life battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can!”
What are thinking about the situations you face today? Are you thinking victory or defeat? God’s Word says you can overcome every situation. But you have a part to play in seeing that promise come to pass. You part is to adjust your thinking to agree with God’s Word. When the Psalmist David was facing many challenges and obstacles in his life, he had something to say about it.
“For by You, I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” (Psalm 18:29)
Your willingness to line up your thinking with what God had said will set the course of success or failure. That’s because what happens in you is much more important to your success than what happens to you! A happy person is not a person with a certain set of attitudes. The choice is yours. You can nurture an attitude of victory or defeat. You can have an attitude that releases the power of God or an attitude that keeps you confined to fear and failure. Just as surely as success begins with an attitude, failure begins with an attitude. Failure does not begin when what you have done has not succeeded, failure begins by saying, “I QUIT!”
THOMAS EDISON
Thomas Edison, one of the world’s greatest inventors tried 10,000 experiments on one idea, none of which produced the results he wanted. Yet he refused to accept failure, to give up, cave in and quit. Edison said, “I have not failed 10,000 times, I have successfully found 10,00 ways that will not work.” When you think like that, you can’t be defeated by the devil. But instead, you will continue to press on util the promise of God becomes a reality in your life. “EVERY CHILD OF GOD IS BORN TO BE A WINNER!” Sadly enough, too many Christians have conditioned and trained themselves to lose. For some, religion has stolen the desire to win. Others have let the hard knocks of life change them. Multitudes of others have never recovered from the broken relationships and disappointments that have squeezed the strength from them. It seems that for some people, almost nothing be done. They have become what I refer to as “CAN’T DO PEOPLE.”
I want to encourage you to spend time each and every day, praying in the Holy Spirit, stay in faith, stay in the Word, keep speaking the right things and making the right confessions of faith, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and remember “God loves you; we love you and JESUS IS LORD!”
In the Service of Our King,
Darrell G. Harrelson
