How to Savor a Life: Overcoming? Me??

 

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. – Romans 12:21

 Conquer = to overcome or take control of a person or place

Seems to me that this would be the greatest desire of evil. To conquer. In reality, that’s probably the only, most single-minded focus of evil. Conquer in every way, every human being. Bring them under the control of the enemy.

Maybe that’s why the devil is often so successful… because his minions are focused and have only one shared goal. We, on the other hand, tend to try to be a bit distracted. We have multiple goals and we love to keep one foot toward heaven and the other in the world.

But I digress.

It’s a scary thought, being conquered. There are so many things out there that are gaping jaws, threatening to swallow up our hope.

Sometimes we feel conquered by our finances (or lack thereof). Grief threatens to conquer us. Addictions conquer us. We can easily slip under when we’re faced with unrelenting physical pain. And we could go on and on. Divorce, betrayal, difficult challenges, job loss, depression, anxiety….

It all leaves us floundering to keep our heads above water.

drowning photo

But God…

First, He told us how not to be conquered.

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. – Romans 12:21

Do good. Make it a point each day to think outside yourself. Tiny steps still get you where you’re going. Maybe today it’s all you can manage just to smile at the grocery clerk. Tomorrow you might manage to slip a card in the mail for someone who is homebound. Making the drive in to work so you can pay the family’s bills, wiping your toddler’s nose for the fiftieth time today, giving your favorite person a long hug. These are doing good. If you just can’t muster enough energy or hope to do any of these, can you pray? Will you take it upon yourself to pray for another when you kneel before the throne? Never underestimate the power of that!

Evil can’t win as long as we’re spreading this kind of love and kindness. The devil loses a little more ground each time we reach outside of our own misery to brighten someone’s day.

I hear you, Dear One. You’re saying, “Shelly, I can’t even scrape myself off the floor today. This week, I’m the one needing the hug and the card and the reassurance. How do you expect me to be all geared up doing good?”

Leaving no stone unturned, of course, God also tells us how.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

And it’s all because….

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. – Romans 8:37

 hope photo

If today you are feeling a bit conquered, please remember the promise.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. – 1 Peter 5:10

And know that you are prayed for.

Dear God, please lend Your strength to all who are reading this today. I pray that You would help them to conquer evil. Keep their hope alive. Build their faith. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…


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May God Bless You,

Shelly

2 Comments on “How to Savor a Life: Overcoming? Me??

  1. I have been studying evil being conquered by good and here you are posting about it!

    Love it when we can learn from each other as we continue to grow in our knowledge and love of Him.

    xx

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