I’m convinced that many Christians are not living a life full of victory. They have chosen to live in defeat and have simply accepted the way things are and have decided to do nothing about it. They live in fear, in doubt, and they worry that God has forgotten about them and so they just float along through life. How do I know? Because I used to live in that home. I didn’t HAVE to, I CHOSE to. There is a difference. Hey God! Where are you? Why isn’t Jeremiah 29:11 happening for me? Have you forgotten about me? Those are the questions that I yelled at God. The last seven years have been the most difficult and the most challenging years of my life. I needed to step away from ministry as I knew it and allow God to work on me, I went through a number of job layoffs and reduction of hours, and I simply could not find “my place in this world” (shout out to Michael W. Smith). I took on part time jobs and my wife worked after hours at school to help make ends meet. It’s not fair! This is not supposed to happen! But, it did. So, I came to a crossroad in my life where I could choose to live where I was living or I could choose to move out. The decision was up to me. God allows us to make those types of decisions. I chose to move out! The landlord didn’t like it but I could care less. I was paying way to much to live in those conditions.

I decided it was time for me to become Eustace Scrubb. Remember him from the movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, an adaptation from the novel by C.S. Lewis? Here is an excerpt from the webpage; WikiNarnia:

Finally one night, Eustace heard Aslan calling to him and saying “Follow Me”. Eustace told Edmund later that he was afraid, though as a dragon he could’ve eaten any lion; he wasn’t afraid of being eaten, he was just afraid. Following Aslan he was taken to a pool where he wanted to bathe his leg. Aslan told him that he must first undress. Scratching and clawing himself, Eustace desperately tried to shed his scales like a snake skin. After three times through this ordeal, he began to fear that he would never be rid of the scales. Aslan’s voice told him “You will have to let me undress you,” and he tore the skin from Eustace, picked him up and dropped him into the pool. As Eustace washed he realized that his arm was no longer in pain because he had turned back into a boy. He returned to the camp and told Edmund what had happened to him. It was Edmund who told him that the lion must have been Aslan. Everyone saw after this that Eustace was a much better natured boy.

Even in my years of following Christ, I was still trying to do things on my own. It’s the reason why I made poor decisions and the reason why I chose to live where I did, in defeat. And that, as a man, is hard for me to admit. But, I had to admit that I needed to allow God to “undress me” if I was ever going to live in victory again. I did, and it hurt. Peeling those old thoughts and habits off of us can hurt can’t they? The old wine-skins need to be thrown out and replaced with new ones! God brings healing to hurts and to scars, if we allow Him. He’ll be there through the pain. He will never leave you or forsake you! That’s His promise to you.

When you live in defeat, the blinds are drawn and you can’t see anything but what’s in front of you. When you choose to live in victory, the blinds are thrown open, the sun shines in, and what you see is limitless. Things are still tough. I wish I had more money and a better car. I’d like to own a home with a fenced in backyard. But, I’m a rich man living in a poor man’s house and that’s far better than living where I was.

During the course of this season of my life, I have seen God restore, heal, mend, fix, provide, the miracle of a newborn son, a wonderful wife, awesome friends and the face of God smiling down on me. May you be encouraged today, may you move out from where you are, and may the face of God shine down upon each of you.

Enjoy the journey!