Are you tired of feeling defeated? Ok, warning!! I’m on fire and worked up!
Read on if you can handle a little straight talk and warfare strategy from a girl who’s done seeing the enemy have his way in our lives! From one who is over seeing so many of us feel defeat, therefore walk in defeat. From a person who spent years giving in to overwhelm, repeating negative stories, and giving in to all the feelings – like I was riding an emotional roller coaster. No longer! I have jumped off and so can you. Are you tired of feeling defeated too?
Of course, I have bad days and so do you. I can start to feel all the emotions and let them rule my day. But God is building in me this strength to fight it all off in a tenacious, bold way. If he can do it for a wimpy girl like me, he can do it for you too!
I do not know what you are facing.
I do know that “[…] even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we are gone” (Psalm 90:10). I have come to the point in my life, at 44, where I am determined to believe the best, even when I see the worst and take advantage of the time I have here on earth.
A strong fire is rising in me to not let the enemy “steal, kill, and destroy” any more than I already have! God’s “purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10) and that’s what I am choosing right in the middle of the chaos.
Lord, “Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). In Jesus Name, Amen!
You might feel defeated today. You are not! God has the last word every time. And we can remember this, “Your feelings are indicators, not dictators. Emotions are not a problem to solve. They’re a tension to manage.” – Lysa Terkeurst
You might feel rejected or forgotten. You are not! God has chosen you (1 Peter 2:9 NLT); He delights in you (Psalms 18:19 ESV); He goes before you (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV), and He orders your steps (Psalms 37:23 KJV).
You might feel you are not good enough or like you are being punished. None of us have it all together! “Life” happens to us all. God is not punishing you. He’s always wooing you into a more intimate relationship with Him. His love far out reaches anything we may face (Romans 8:28 NIV).
Feelings can be deceiving, fickle, and often they are NOT absolute truth even though they are the truth of how we feel in the moment. They can send us spiraling out of control. Our emotions are worth paying attention to, processing and then aligning them with God’s Word prior to acting on them.
Are you tired of feeling defeated? Me, too friend.
Let’s STOP this cycle today. You and I can, and we will not ever regret it. I can confidently, 100%, promise you this!
Renew your mind by the power of the Word of God (Romans 12:2). Or as many say: change your mind, change your life. Repeat God’s words until they become your words. Your feelings will eventually catch up to your decisions. Don’t let your feelings be the boss of you!
Proclaim in the darkness His truth until the light comes busting through all over the place – right in the midst of the storm! Learn to dance in the rain.
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (Psalms 91:1-4).
“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army ( or ____________ ). For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chron. 20:15).
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Giving thanks in all circumstances will eventually produce joy and peace that the enemy can’t do anything about. That my friend is defeating the enemy! Don’t let him steal what God is giving you! Protect it! Cultivate it. Release it to the world and see how God blesses and multiplies what you place in His hands.
Satan wants you defeated, alone, rejected, hopeless, and feeling worthless so you will become paralyzed. Then he wins.
This is war.
Worship is Warfare.
We have a choice.
Rise up!
You are NOT defeated!
“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” – Psalms 59:16
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17
Worship the Lord who gives us the tools to withstand the enemy while God fights our battles. Keep standing. Outlast your opponent. You can do this!
Fight for your peace and joy, which is your strength! “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)!
God is on your side!
You might “feel” abandoned, but you are not!
God is building you and I strong so we can learn to overcome and use our spiritual warfare muscles to experience freedom. Freedom does not come when life is problem-free. Freedom comes as we proclaim it before we see it. Defeat will not have the last word in our lives!
This is war beautiful one, and you and I are made for this IF we depend on God!
Will you rise up and fight the good fight with me?
With much love and grace,
Joelle Povolni
Note: If this post spoke to your heart, I pray this will encourage you as well, Comparison is a Trap.
