The victory of the Cross is not a one-time event but a daily reality for every believer. The scripture reminds us that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
To consistently enjoy this victory, we must embrace two fundamental principles:
1. Knowing Who You Are in Christ
Before we can truly celebrate the victory of the Cross, we need to understand our identity in Christ. This revelational knowledge is the key that unlocks our freedom. When you grasp that you are loved, redeemed, and empowered by God, every life’s battle becomes an opportunity to live out that truth.
In our marriages and relationships, this truth comes into play. Instead of seeking approval or validation solely from one another, we learn to ground our worth in who we are in Christ. This mutual understanding transforms conflict into growth and challenges into stepping stones toward a deeper, more resilient love. Just as the Word nourishes our spirit, a clear knowledge of who we are in Christ becomes the sustenance for every aspect of our lives.
2. Faith
Faith is essential to experiencing God’s victory. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Our belief in His promises like Romans 8:32, which reminds us that He gave His only Son for us builds an unshakeable foundation. Faith is the anchor that holds us steady when life’s storms arise.
Consider the simple yet crucial question: “What are you feeding your mind?” The thoughts we nurture shape our identity and our destiny. In every relationship and marriage, feeding our minds with the truth of God’s Word and meditating on the scriptures, enables us to overcome difficulties with confidence. Even when challenges seem impossible, faith assures us that Christ has overcome the world.
Victory in Christ isn’t about never facing struggles. It’s about knowing that no matter what comes your way, you’ve already won through Christ. Life will test you in every way possible but don’t lose sight of what the cross secured for you. See yourself with the lens of the cross!
Stop picking up what God has already taken away. It could be fear, doubt, or past mistakes. Keep feeding your mind with His truth, trust His timing, and hold onto faith even when things don’t look like they’re changing.
God’s victory should be your everyday reality. Live in it, walk in it, and never let life convince you otherwise.
The situation in Israel was terrible, so terrible that MOTHERS entered into an agreement to have their children for lunch. There’s an emphasis on “Mothers” because mothers have a special bond with their children.
And the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so that we can eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ So we boiled my son and ate him. And the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son so that we can eat him.’ And she has hidden her son”. 2 Kings 6:28-29
If mothers could slaughter their sons for lunch, then the situation was really terrible. And it also reveals to us that a man, if he doesn’t receive grace, can do ANYTHING in his vulnerable seasons.
This is actually a very disturbing story to read, but sometimes life can throw dirty and hard curveballs at you that will make you begin to justify barbaric acts. You can “kill” anyone just to survive, and you can even justify it as “God’s provision.”
“If I’m alive, I can give birth to another son. If I don’t boil my son, I and my son will still die of hunger. It’s better I sacrifice my son so I can live and give birth to another tomorrow. Thank You, LORD, for this wisdom.” One mother would have said, out of severe hunger, justifying the sin she was about to commit and slapping the name of God on it.
What are you currently trying to justify? This is God’s call for you to stop!
One of the moments you have to be extremely careful and double-check every action is in times of dire need… in your low moments. In such times, it will do you good to stay real close to God—to really enquire of God before taking any action—so that you don’t do anything you will regret and pay for later. Many have “boiled their sons” to satisfy their needs. I hope you don’t do so.
After they boiled the first woman’s son and ate, the hunger cleared, and the second woman began thinking well.
“How on earth did we agree to do this?”
So she went and hid her son.
You see that hunger was really the driving force of the barbaric act. Hunger can mess up your life. Hunger can make you do terrible things you couldn’t have imagined yourself doing. So, I counsel again:
In your times of dire need, stay close to God. Allow God to purify you constantly. Don’t take actions hastily—sit on decisions and allow God to direct you.
Finally, come to the throne of grace and receive grace.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 [NKJV]
There’s Grace available for you. You can receive grace for the season you’re currently in. You can receive grace.
Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough for God? No matter how much you pray, worship, or try to live right, there’s always a lingering feeling of guilt, doubt, or spiritual failure. If so, let me break the good news to you that you’re not alone.
Many believers struggle with the thought that they are not truly godly and that they’re somehow a disappointment to God. That feeling doesn’t come from God, it’s the enemy messing with your mind.
One of Satan’s greatest strategies is deception. He knows he cannot take away your salvation, so he works hard to make you think you’re not worthy of God’s love. His goal is to make you believe a lie so that you live in defeat rather than the victory Christ has already won for you.
That’s why the Bible admits to us
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
If the enemy can make you doubt God’s love, he knows he can weaken your faith.
You see, your mistakes, struggles, and doubts can not separate you from God’s love. God’s love is constant, consistent, and unchanging.
Romans 8:38-39 that: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Now that you know the enemy’s tactics, here’s how you can fight back:
1. Renew your mind with God’s word daily
The enemy thrives in ignorance, but God’s Word is your weapon. (Romans 12:2)
2. Reject condemnation
Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit to lead you back to God, but condemnation comes from the devil to push you away from God. Learn to recognize the difference.
3. Guard your thoughts
When negative thoughts come, don’t entertain them. Instead, do what is in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Counter lies with truth. When the enemy says, You’re not godly, remind him: I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).
4. Stay in a community
Isolation makes you an easy target for the enemy. Stay connected with other believers who can encourage and uplift you.
5. Pray and resist the enemy
Prayer isn’t just talking to God; it’s also spiritual warfare. Fight negative thoughts in the place of prayer.
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
So the next time the enemy tries to bring guilt and mess with your mind, remind him: I belong to Jesus, and nothing you say can change that truth.
Most of the time, our immediate actions have futuristic consequences, which is why we have to be careful about what we do or what we don’t do. Our choices – whether good or bad, transcend us.
David, for example, chose to go for another man’s wife after murdering him. One would think God’s silence on the matter for over a year meant He approved David’s actions. Well, his choices threw his family into problems as the sword never departed from his house.
What about Abraham, the father of faith? He wanted a permanent solution to his issue of childlessness as the supposed promise of God was taking too long to manifest. Of course, we know he eventually had to send Ishmael away.
I could also talk about Samson, Joseph, Gehazi, Saul, and a host of others whose choices outlived them.
What is my point this morning? It doesn’t end with you. That 5 minutes of pleasure doesn’t end there. That subtle text doesn’t end there. Yes, it is taking longer than you thought but compromising has never solved any problem beforehand. Ask everyone who has compromised in one way or another. It never ended there. More often than not, the moment you are done compromising, then the issues begin.
Jos 24:15 [NKJV] And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Before you take that decision, think about your children. Think about your assignment. Think about your purpose. Jesus could have easily turned the stones into bread. He not only had the power, he was hungry, but he knew better. He knew his work on earth was more than bread.
Like we say in Nigeria; the food you do not have plans to put in your mouth, do not bring it close to your nose.
It is amazing how we can overlook the power of the little.
God has the capacity to create anything out of nothing. It is the attribute of the divine.
But for man, there has to be that little to work with. God will never leave you with nothing. It could be gifts, talents, substance, relationships, or even the seed of the word, but there will always be that thing you have to get you to where you ought to be.
That is the principle of the kingdom.
In our scripture for the year, it says,
Isa 60:22 (KJV) A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Can you see that? What will become a thousand is the “little.”
That little is always needed.
What is the little that you have but have neglected because you are looking for the “huge” capital to get started?
What is the little gift you have but have simply refused to appreciate?
Well, whatever is not appreciated will depreciate.
You must not only identify and acknowledge your little, but you must be thankful, praise-full, and grateful to God for it.
Do you remember the five loaves and the two fishes?
John 6:5-9 (KJV) When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? [6] And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. [7] Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. [8] One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, [9] There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Andrew despised and dismissed the little lunch of the little boy, but hey, that was exactly “the little” that Jesus needed to demonstrate God’s wonder on supernatural provision!
Be thankful and grateful for the little this morning, put it in the hands of Jesus like that lunch, and watch a glorious miracle of multiplication unravel in your life! May God open your eyes to see the little!
