Devotional:

Be an Overcomer through Christ!

 

 

March 23, 2012                                                                                  By Stacie Ruth Stoelting

 

  

Take God's Word for It: 
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"
-Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

 ...

  

Corrie ten Boom said, "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see." Corrie ten Boom was a Christian survivor of the horrific Nazi concentration camps. She lost loved ones and possessions that would have destroyed anyone apart from Christ. Now, re-read that quote with that in mind. Wow. No one could say that apart from God's grace. 

 

First of all, no trial can sentence you to be forsaken by God. Since being forsaken by God is our ultimate fear, we have nothing to fear! No divorce, job loss, persecution, physical or mental suffering can ever win a victory over your soul! God holds you. He loves you. Wow, how He loves you! He said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

 

 

As overcomers in Christ, we must love with action and a call to salvation so that others can become overcomers! The Bible says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). 

 

Shhhh. Can you hear it? It's a lullaby, but it's not sung by a tender mother. It's a sedating lulling by the enemy. Especially in America, the devil desires to make churches so concerned about attracting people into a tech-savvy sanctuary that they're distracted about getting the Gospel out into the community. Some say, "It'll turn people off if you include a call to salvation." Oh, my fellow believers, that's not of God!

 

When you love God, evangelism and holiness bring unstoppable joy! And sharing with others is natural!The enemy wants to fill schedules of church leaders with lots of activities and planning committees yet lose focus on sharing the Gospel. The solution? Let God plan your schedule. Growing and going with Him to share the Gospel with as many as possible is the right mindset. His priorities include loving the unlovely, sharing the Gospel with the unloving, and preaching in season and out of season. Being faithful and fruitful. Are you seeing fruit as you do what Jesus did in ministry?  

 

Jesus died to save souls. Why aren't we more vocal with people lost and dying? Love them with deed and share how to be saved! It literally is a matter of life and death.

 

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel..." Don't let fear fool you into not sharing Him as much and with as many as possible in your life. Yes, be faithful in your corner of the world. But be open to going to the lost. Ask yourself, "Am I being faithful AND fruitful?"  

 

 

No trial is too great to stop you from overcoming evil with good. Corrie ten Boom would attest to that. In spite of Nazis killing her family and friends, she shared the Gospel around the world with countless people -including her torturers. Wow, He helped her stand the horrors and emerge emotionally healed in Christ! Christ suffered infinite agony as He bore the punishment for the our horrific sins...He knows suffering and He knows how to comfort.

 

 

Or perhaps you think, "Well, I sure haven't been a saint like that Corrie ten Boom. It's too late." But it's not! God still loves you. He's waiting for you to run to Him for safety. Run. Run to Him, my friend. (Today, be sure you know that you're saved from sin and death. Click here to learn more about it!)

 

 

Okay! There's nothing to fear here and Heaven's ahead! So, overcomers (yes, that includes you!), let's focus on this and let God's Word have the final word: "Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 AMP  

 

 

Tip of the Week: Take time every morning to ask Jesus to love others through you and see things from His eternal, victorious perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Praise Reports of the Week!

Praise the Lord for these prayer requests turned praise reports! Hey, do you have a praise report? Please send your praise reports so that we can praise God together! Simply click here: http://prayingpals.org/nowshare.html.

 
Keita: "I sent a prayer request at a really trying time while I was trying to complete my graduate studies. Thank you Praying Pals. I will be graduating!!!"

Lynne: "Thank God, some creditors have been good to me. I was also able to find some friends that could hep me locate the people who harrassed me. Thank You, Lord!"

Kay: "Praising Jesus cause I know HE is working in my family's lives... Sure, things are not fixed yet, but I know they will be... It's called faith!"

Joseph: "Thanks and praise to God Most High that I can see with my lenses without undergoing keratoplsty(eye surgery)."

A Praying Pal's test results showed NO CANCER!

Tassie praises God for all He's provided in her life.
 

 

 

When God answers in ways we don't understand, we praise Him. But we also praise Him in the times we see clearly His mercy displayed in the preceding praise reports from Praying Pals around the world!

 

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Note: New praise reports will be included
with next week's praise reports. Let's praise Him!

 

 

Prayer Requests and Update:

 

As prayer partners, we pray over a prayer list each week. Feel free to pray over our yet-to-be updated list. Please pray over each category "as a whole" and trust God's omniscience. He knows each. No list overwhelms God. Click here to view the prayer list and pray over each category as a whole.

  

Send your prayer requests and praise reports 24/7 at our site: www.PrayingPals.org.

 

 

 

Important Note:
 
If you are suicidal, contact another resource immediately for help and do not harm yourself! God still loves you. There is hope! If you feel suicidal, contact an emergency counseling service like the New Life Call Center at 1-800-NEW-LIFE(639-5433).
Will You Help PrayingPals.org Help Others?
 
Every week, we hear from people who thank God for how He's used PrayingPals.org. So many hurting hearts  -including the suicidal- spend lots of time online. We share prayer where the people are, introduce them to know and follow Jesus, encourage local church involvement, and link them with helpful resources. But we need prayers and support, too. Please consider helping us in any way you can:

1. Pray: Simply pray for our mission.
2. Share: E-mail your friends about it.
3. Give: Donations help continue meeting expenses. (To donate, click here.) 

Why not remind your friends that God loves them?

Please forward this e-mail (or post it on your Facebook wall) and include a note that you're praying for them today!