Overcoming the Past - You are an Overcomer (Daily Devotional)

Shalom, thank you for coming once again to this episode of Living Supernaturally. We started off this series with knowing how we can overcome the past and what the bible tells us about overcoming the past. Through yesterday's devotion, we looked at how God is the one who restores. The bible tells us that you and I are overcomers. We face battles and there are internal struggles, there are external pressures, there may be temptations, there are fears from the past, at times all of this begins to become quite overwhelming. But the bible gives us spiritual reality and says that you and I are overcomers. 1 John chapters 5 and verse 4 reads ‘for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.’ The spiritual reality in this verse is that we are overcomers because of our new identity through our faith in Jesus Christ. So, when you and I are born of God, when we are born of God it means that more than believing in Him, it means we have received a new identity through our faith in Christ. We are no longer defined by our past or by our failures or by our shame but we have a new nature. When we are born of God, we have a new nature, a new source of strength and an access to power that is not of this world but by the power of His Spirit and that's what makes every difference. What does this verse say about those who are born of God? It says they overcome. To be an overcomer means to live in victory over the pain, over the hurt, the wounds. It's not pretending that they don't exist but standing firm in the truth of who God is and who we are in Him. The good news is that you already are an overcomer if you are in Christ. But walking in that reality requires intentional steps of faith. So, overcoming is a daily choice, where we say no to bitterness, we choose forgiveness, we walk in obedience and we are also giving up control. These are not easy but the Holy Spirit strengthens us to choose God's best and release the offender and to also release the offense. The verse reads, ‘this is the victory that has overcome the world.’ Jesus overcame sin, death and every evil force and now that victory belongs to both you and me. We do not need to earn it; we just need to receive it and walk in it. What connects us to this victory? It is our faith! Faith doesn't mean we won't feel the pain but it means that we keep trusting God even in the pain. It is choosing to believe His word over whatever the circumstances may otherwise say. It's standing firm on His promises even when things may look uncertain. The past cannot hold you down because Jesus has triumphed and has given you victory and if He has overcome, we can be overcomers too. Let's pray together, Heavenly Father, we thank you that we are overcomers because of what you did for us on the cross, because of our identity in you. Thank you that our past and our wounds do not have to define us but it is our victory that defines us because of what you did and because of the faith that we exert in you. Father, may we live as overcomers and may the world see us as overcomers, thank you, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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