Our Inheritance of Victory

I want to thank God for the inheritance of overcoming He gave me. If you are a blood-bought, born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you, too, have that inheritance.

Psalm 47:4 says, “He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose an inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.”

The writer of that scripture clearly expected victory. He’s confident that God intends victory for His people.

Knowing who we are in Christ personally is pivotal to believing God has an inheritance of victory for us. The book of Romans says:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:14-17 NKJV).

When we realize that (1) we are God’s child and (2) we are God’s heir, then it makes sense that God designed victory for us.

When we’re choosing a path, a behavior, or a goal, it could help us to remember that God chose an inheritance of victory for us. Is the decision we’re about to make in alignment with the victorious life God wants for us? Is it in line with scripture? If not, where will it take us?

While we may be tempted to think passively or dismissively about the effects of our decisions assuming God pulls all the strings, it’s important to realize we are active participants in the direction of our lives.

God can plan and provide for a life of joy, peace, and blessing for us and us squander it through sinful or burdening choices. Hebrews 12:1 NKJV says, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith….”

If we’ve made bad choices (most of us have) that have robbed us of victorious living or finding and pursuing His plan and purpose for our lives, it’s not too late to change course. We can change direction starting now.

Our participation in the direction of our lives can take a lot of shapes. Two ways we heavily influence our path, pointing it either toward or away from the victory God wants us to have, is through prayer and through choice.

Participation Through Prayer

We know scripturally that prayer changes things. We also know prayer changes us.

Prayer is a way we humble ourselves and surrender our personal will to the will of God, especially when coupled with fasting. Prayer gives God more power and authority in our lives. How is that possible when God has all power and all authority? Because God also gave us free will and allows us to follow the way in which we insist on going. We must want God’s will…or at least want to want God’s will. Prayer will help change our heart.

Prayer is also a way we seek wisdom. We need wisdom for daily matters and big decisions. James 1:5 NKJV encourages us to pray for wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” The Lord stands by to help. Psalm 111:10 NKJV says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments….” Patching those scriptures together, one could think it a good idea for us to pray to fear the Lord.

Participation Through Choice

We have the option to allow God’s will to rule over our own will. We can imagine it like “free wheel.” We choose who drives. The more of our will we surrender to God, the more our decisions will align with His plan and purpose for our lives. Proverbs 3:6 NKJV promises, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” We make a point of acknowledging the Lord, and He makes a point of directing our paths.

When we pray for God to do a work, we can either work with Him or against Him. From our free will, we make choices. For example, if we are praying to do well on that test, could we study more or with fewer distractions? Could we ask for help understanding the material? Perhaps we are praying to be free or to stay free from sinful habits or addictions. Could we build barriers between ourselves and our temptations? Could our relationship with the Lord get stronger through the renewing and transforming of our minds that happens when we draw near to God through prayer, Bible study, and worship? Could we sever relationships with people who negatively influence our walk with Christ? And again, could we ask for help? Sometimes, especially with addiction, we need strong spiritual help, maybe even deliverance. We may have to choose intervention.

Whatever we need to choose to cooperate with God, we can choose it. Choice can be hard. The “could we” questions are often “will we” questions. There are actions we can take to positively affect our lives. Will we take them?

To believe we cannot choose contrary to the weakness of our flesh is a lie the devil sells to make us give up and give in to evil and stay defeated. God says something different. He says Romans 8:37: “…we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” He says Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He says Matthew 11:29-30: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” God makes no allowance for staying defeated without the individual making the choice to do so.

If we understand the Lord has established an inheritance of victory for us, will it change our outlook on the present and the future? Will it encourage us to make decisions that please God? Will it resurrect and stir hope in us to believe things can change for the better? Will it inspire us to seek and follow God’s purpose for our lives, actually believing He has a purpose for our lives that’s greater than the disappointments of the past?

Yes. Yes! Our beliefs impact our behavior. When we realize victory is an option, we are empowered to choose it! As children of God—as joint heirs with Jesus Christ, Who whipped satan and his evil kingdom at Calvary—we have an inheritance of victory. It is ours to possess, to live out.

We’ve been living outside of our inheritance long enough. Victory is not only possible but planned. God has chosen an inheritance of victory for His children. Let’s align our lives with His plan and purpose for us. Pray for it. Choose it.