Elements of a Victorious Christian Life

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”  - (Jeremiah 29:11).

1.       BEGIN THE DAY WITH A PROCLAMATION
“This is the day which the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
“The steps of a good man (woman) are ordered by the Lord. . .(Psalm 37:23).
2.       DON’T LIMIT GOD
“I can do all things, through Christ, who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
3.       CONTROL YOUR TONGUE
There is blessing and cursing in the tongue.  Choose blessing.
“Those who say they can and those who say they can’t are both right” – Henry Ford.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
Prayer:  “Lord, I desire to be positive in all my thinking.  Please give me the power to focus my attention on the good around me, even if my circumstances are bad.  Amen.”                               
4.       PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE
Concentrate on how Big God is—not on how Big the problem is.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
5.       RESIST THE DEVIL
“Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
When you find yourself getting into trouble put your hand in the air and say:  “I loose myself from a spirit of _________________ (self-pity, addiction, anxiety, anger, fear, etc.) and I loose myself to do the will of God.”
“No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord…” (Isaiah 54:17).
6.       DON’T TEMPT GOD
Don’t see how far you can go and get away with a thing.  That leads to deception.  Don’t deceive yourself.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
So you sin—confess it—turn away from it.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
7.       HAVE FAITH
The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character—that He is who He says He is.  The end point is believing in God’s promises—that He will do what He says.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
                     FEAR______________________________________________FAITH
               (Negative believing)                                                                    (Positive believing)
                                                                 BELIEVING
                        Faith and Fear take the same energy to believe—choose Faith.
8.     BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
An experience subsequent to salvation.  "But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. . ." (Acts 1:8a).