BE HOPEFUL OF VICTORY

When Christians experience the trials of life, often their victories can depend on how they anticipate the
outcome of their circumstances. Believers often expect the worst to happen in their lives and usually nothing
ever does.
This is not only true with believers today, but it was also true with those in the Word of God. There were many
people in the Bible who expected the worst even when they had the power of God working for them.
Remember the story of David, and how King Saul continually tried to take David's life. David had opportunity to
take Saul's life, but David recognized that Saul was God's anointed. Both seemingly reached an agreement of
peace. However this did not last very long because when you read in the story of Saul and David, you will find
that they had a running battle for many years after David killed Goliath.
We even read in 1 Samuel 27:1 that David began to anticipate that Saul would eventually try to destroy his life.
What Are You Expecting?
The same situation that David faced applies to believers today. Many people expect the worst in life, while
tormenting themselves by thinking on things that may occur. In many instances, those things are merely false
imaginations.
In the first verse of chapter 27, David said in his heart that he would one day perish by the hand of Saul. And
yet, Saul did not take his life. David had anticipated that he would eventually perish because he was constantly
fleeing dangerous circumstances. He expected Saul to take his life because he lost sight of the protecting
power of God.
David failed to remember that God had been protecting him during all of those situations that he had faced.
Think about how close Saul was in striking David when he threw the spear at him. Although Saul was a good
marksman with the spear, he still was unable to hit David.
God had taken care of David many, many times. But now, in a moment of weakness, and in a moment of losing
his faith, David decides to flee to the land of the enemy of the Israelites. Apparently, David was running and
expecting the worst to occurand nothing happened.
The Worst Usually Never Happens
So often, when difficult situations arise, Christians expect the worst and they think on things that are not true
and probably will never happen. And many times, those things they were anticipating for the worst never come
about.
What does this have to do with us today? It has a lot to do with us today, because the devil is continually trying
to get you to go in the opposite direction and hinder your faith. You see, you can stand strong in faith for 30
days, but nullify all of those days of standing with a little doubt and unbelief in your heart. If you allow the devil
to cause you to think on things that aren't true, then your anticipation for victory will turn to defeat.
When you are anticipating something, you cannot afford to think on those things that are negative. When you
hear news that doesn't correspond with your faith, you have to hold fast to what you believe. You always have
to anticipate the victory by believing that God will take care of you in any situation.
People anticipate the worst because they read the newspapers, hear the news, and listen to various
commentaries on television. By doing this you will naturally begin to anticipate the worst possible situation.

Never anticipate failure or defeat. Don't allow your faith to become weak by feeding on the wrong things. Feed
on the truth of God's Word.
Believing God, Not Newspapers
Keeping the outside pressures of this world from dominating our thought life comes only as we learn to
meditate on the Word of God. This doesn't mean that we are to live our lives in some unreasonable fashion. In
all areas of our lives we need to exercise common sense and use natural wisdom. In this case, however, I'm
talking about believing God and anticipating what He says He will do.
This can apply to any area of our lives. Take finances for example. If God said that He would supply all of our
needs, He will. Someone may ask how God will do it. That's His business. Our business is to take God at His
Word and anticipate that He will do what He said.
In times past, when I was faced with certain financial situations, some have asked what was I going to do. I
would tell them that I'm going to do what the Word says. The Bible says, "Render unto Caesar what's Caesar's,
and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). Since God is still the same today as He was yesterday,
then we can always expect Him to take us on to victory.
For example, it doesn't matter how many changes are made in the political arena, since God is on the throne
we can always anticipate the victory no matter what the circumstances look like. Jesus made it clear when He
said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word will never pass away" (Matt. 24:35). that's something to
shout about! Because if God said itI believe itand that settles it!
There are many believers who have been anticipating many things for the worse. Some are worrying about this
and worrying about that. But, if they'll just follow God, they'll discover that many of those things that were
bothering them will already be taken care.
Notice what Paul had learned as a result of trusting in God. Paul learned what it took to anticipate the victory in
his life no matter what circumstance he found himself in.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
A lot of people have not fully grasped what this scripture is saying. They'll read it with their minds and not allow
it to get into their hearts. Notice that this verse is personal, and it includes you. Paul said, "I can do all things..."
(v. 13). It's not because of who you are, but it's because of Christ. He wasn't just talking about spiritual things,
but natural things as well.
That it is why it is so important to anticipate God's hand to move in every circumstance. For it's through Jesus
that we have the victory. There is nothing that you and I can't handle as long as we stay in Christ. The problem
is too many people are walking out of fellowship with Christ. Then when a seemingly impossible situation arises
they don't expect to come out on the other side victorious.
Even the prophet Elijah failed to anticipate the victory in his own life. This man of God had did so many great
things in the sight of his enemies and his own people that it seemed he could expect victory at every turn. But,
in 1 Kings 19:1-4, the Word explains what Elijah began to anticipate when news was sent to him from Jezebel.
Elijah had just defeated the prophets of Baal, but immediately after, he found himself running from Jezebel who
was threatening his life. Elijah reached a point where he felt he couldn't go any further. The truth of the matter is
that he could have stayed where he was and depended on the power of God to keep him alive. But, because
he feared the queen, Elijah ran anticipating the worst.

Stand Confident In Your Victory In God

Some believers experience the same thing in their own lives. They may have just had a tremendous victory and
God has just blessed them. Then immediately the devil comes along and brings about troublesome
circumstances, and they turn around and start running.
As long as Elijah stayed with God, no one could defeat him. Do you think that if Elijah stayed where he was on
the mountain, while calling on the Lord Jehovah, that the queen could have destroyed him? Elijah could have
just called on God for His protecting power and more people would have been wiped out.
Elijah would have seen a greater victory on the mountain than ever before had he stood his ground. Instead he
lost his faith and became discouraged. But this goes to show you that just because you had victory yesterday,
doesn't mean that you'll be prepared to fight the devil tomorrow.
That is why it is so important that believers keep themselves spiritually fit. A decision has to be made everyday
that you will believe God no matter what. Once this is done, God will always see you through to victory.