overcome

i've heard this word all my life - overcome - what does it mean? one common explanation is that it means to "come over" something - as in an obstacle - a roadblock - anything that gets in your way

so the first step of being an overcomer is to face opposition - i mean you can't overcome something until you have something to overcome - that encourages me - it tells me that every overcomer before me faced opposition in their life - but they didn't just face it - they came over it - and if they did - i can

i often think of 2 kings in the Bible - saul and david - they lived during the same period of history - they faced opposition - they were tempted - they failed - yep - both of them

but one died in a sad state - in a losing battle - his son with him - yet the other is still remembered as a man after God's own heart

the difference between the two? what happened after their failures - one was always looking for someone to blame - someone to punish - someone to fight

yet the other we find calling out to God - "rescue me" - "don't turn away from me" - "help me" - "i am trusting in You" - "listen to my prayer" - and when he really blew it he cried "i have sinned against the Lord"

and scripture says God heard his prayer - and answered his call

you see the difference in the two men - saul and david - both kings - both anointed by God - both powerful - both warriors - the difference was how they responded to their opposition - even when david failed he was still digging for God - he would not let go of his relationship - his call

are you an overcomer? or are you thinking of giving up? throwing in the towel?

don't do it! that's exactly what your opposition is wanting you to do - but get up one more time - face your opposition - pray through it - ask someone to pray with you - stand for what you know - make up your mind - defeat is not an option - don't give in to your opposition - overcome it!