4 Crucial Steps to Living in Victory

Throughout Scripture, we see numerous instances of people subduing or escaping their enemies by the power of God. One example comes from 1 Samuel 14. To paraphrase, ancient Israel was living under the oppression of their long-standing enemies, the Philistines. This coastal people group sent out raiding parties and stripped God’s children of their weapons and weapon makers so that “not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel” (1 Samuel 13:19).

One day, Jonathan, the reigning king’s son, and his armor bearer went to the Philistine outpost, stating, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or few” (1 Samuel 14:6).

He then devised a way to discern God’s will. Once the Lord gave him the sign to advance, he and his armor bearer did so, and the Lord fought on their behalf by striking panic throughout the entire Philistine army.

Generations prior, however, we see the opposite occur. This was early in the nation’s history, and not long after the Lord liberated them from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. His intent, which He later fulfilled, was to bring them into the agriculturally rich land long promised to their ancestors. Sadly, however, when it came time for the Israelites to take ownership of this blessing, they refused. In fear, they forfeited the gift God had already, in essence, given them. But once they realized the cost of their disobedience, they changed their minds.

In Numbers 14:40-45, we read:

“Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, ‘Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!’ But Moses said, ‘Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.’ Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.”

They failed because the Lord wasn’t in the fight. The same holds true for us. If we want to experience divine victory, we need to ensure we’re following as our Commanding Officer leads (2 Timothy 2:4), and only as He leads.

When raising children, this might mean ignoring minor inconveniences so that our kids feel less overwhelmed with the boundaries we must set. In marriage, this might look like letting the whiskers on the sink or dirty socks on the floor go and instead focusing on communication issues or hurtful behavior. I’ve also experienced numerous times where I sensed God asking me not to address something only to discover that He took care of the problem some other way.

When we fight battles God never intends us to fight, not only do we rob ourselves of the time and energy we’ll need for those He has assigned, but we also step outside of His will, and therefore, His peace. To phrase it another way, everything goes best when we’re following the Lord’s perfect wisdom.

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I’m amused by the various unexpected ways the Lord, throughout Scripture, allowed His people to triumph against overwhelming odds. 2 Chronicles 20 records one of my favorite accounts. This occurred around 500 years after God’s people took possession of Canaan. At this point, the nation was divided; Israel, led by an evil king named Ahaziah, was in the north and Judah, ruled by godly King Jehoshaphat, was in the south.

One day King Jehoshaphat learned that a vast army made up of Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meunites, was coming against him and his people and in fact, wasn’t far. But notice how the king responded. Verses 3-4 state:

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

He prayed publicly, confidently, and humbly, proclaiming God’s strength and seeking His aid, adding:

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Notice, he didn’t seek God’s blessing on a strategy he or his military devised. Instead, he maintained a posture of complete dependence, acknowledged that the situation was beyond him and his advisors, and sought the Lord’s will. One can assume, then, that he intended to follow however God led, whether that meant fighting their enemies, fleeing from them, or conceding to them.

In response, God’s Spirit came upon one of the men in the assembly, who prophesied:

“‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you’” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).

 The next day, the people of Judah marched out to meet their enemies singing God’s praises. The result?

^“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated (2 Chronicles 20:22).

God’s people gained victory not through military skill or might but rather obedience. They triumphed because they sought God in their crisis and obeyed precisely as He led.

When we engage in our battles God’s way – which for us often means with the weapons of love, grace, and discernment – He fights for us.

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If you’ve spent much time in church or faith settings, you might have heard someone teach on what scholars refer to as the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). While this passage outlines military attire the Lord instructs us to put on each day, they aren’t items we must hunt down, gather, or earn. They’re offensive and defensive tools we already possess through Christ. We put them on by recognizing and utilizing all the power and protection that’s ours in Him and living as if this is true.

For example, we’re told to wear the belt of truth buckled around our waist (Eph. 6:14). This requires reading our Bibles often and consistently enough to know God’s instructions and what He has and hasn’t promised. The more Scripture we’ve embodied, the better we’re able to recognize, withstand, and overcome the devil’s schemes to defeat us.

God’s truth, as recorded in Scripture, is also our only offensive weapon. In Matthew 4, Jesus demonstrated how to use this powerful tool to defeat the devil. We follow His example every time we proclaim His power, promises, protection, and our secure position in Him.

Scripture also tells us to wear “the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14). This comes from our relationship with Christ. Because of our faith in Him, and the price He paid on our behalf, we’ve been made righteous, or currently possess right standing with God the Father. This is great news, because it means that the Creator of the universe is for us. We belong to Him, and He takes protective ownership of us, His children.

In Ephesians 6:16, Scripture instructs us to take up the shield of faith, which symbolizes our trust in and dependence upon God, His power, and His promises. It’s choosing, even when afraid, to believe the Lord’s words over the enemy’s lies.

The Bible also tells us that God Himself is our refuge (Psalm 46:1) and impenetrable tower (Prov. 18:10) in which we can hide. He is our perfect and ever-present guide who provides perfect wisdom for our greatest challenges, and infuses us internally with His supernatural strength. The more we reflect on all that belongs to us in Christ, the less we’ll cower when danger comes and the more we’ll rely on Him to enable us to overcome our greatest challenges and setbacks.

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No one would have imagined that Christ would defeat evil, death, and the enslaving pull of sin through crucifixion. At the moment when the Son of God appeared weakest, He was wielding His greatest strength. He conquered not by overthrowing the Roman government, as the first century Jews expected, or by expelling the corrupt priests from the Temple. Christ’s battle extended to something far greater — to matters of eternity. His success came not through exerting His will on the masses, but rather, His obedience to the Father (Phil. 2:8).

This is how we triumph as well. Whenever we choose to live according to God’s will, as recorded in Scripture, etched on our hearts, and whispered in our souls, we’ve won in every way that most matters. Here’s what this looked like in the relational conflict I shared previously. Sadly, God didn’t salvage the friendship that my and the other person’s hurtful actions shattered. But He did do, and is still doing, a major, victorious work within me, one that I’m certain will result in healthier relationships and responses in the future.

We weren’t created and redeemed to live in defeat. Scripture tells us that, in Christ, we are more than conquerors. This means we’re not inching toward the winning goal, but rather He empowers us for overwhelming victory. That’s why it’s so important to remain in step with Him, taking on what He assigns, as He desires, and moving past whatever He hasn’t called us to.

While this won’t always feel easy, and in fact might create anxiety in the moment, it will lead to a more fulfilling and peaceful life characterized by less chaos, greater effectiveness, and increased intimacy with our Savior.

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