Drink From the Deep » Abundant Life » Are you a Winner – or a Loser?
Are you a Winner – or a Loser?
Rainy Day games
It has been a rainy, dreary day all day today. Yuck. Not a pretty picture outside, but inside I had fun playing board games with my 7 year old and my 9 year old. Sadly, I was beat by both of them (Monopoly City by my 9 year old, and then Life by my 7 year old).
When I lost at the game Life, I congratulated my sweet daughter, and then said “Well, I lost again. Man, I’m a loser today.” (I was joking)
She immediately and sweetly replied “You’re a winner to God!”
{smile!}
“Well, what do I win? What will God give me?” I curiously asked back.
“Life!” she replied confidently.
{Big smile!}
This girl is smart!
“So, you lost at the game Life – but you won at real Life” she told me. We both agreed – that was “WAY better” anyways!
You have been given Life
Did you know that you have been given Life too?
“Well, duh, Lori . . . I’m sitting here reading this – aren’t I? I couldn’t be doing that if I were dead!” 🙂
Yes – you have been given that kind of life . . . of course. But if you know Jesus – if you have made him Lord of your life (ie – “asked him into your heart”) – then you have been given new Life as well! Your “old life” (of sin) died with Jesus on the cross, and He has given you a “new life” – a fresh start – the slate wiped clean – your sins are no more (they became His . . . . we don’t own them anymore! Woo-hoo!).
(I know this sounds simple, but to some it really is a new concept – so bear with me. This is for someone who will read it one day!)
But God didn’t stop there . . . . He actually gave us ABUNDANT LIFE! 🙂 Woo-hoo! Jesus says in John 10:10 –“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
You have not just been saved from an eternal death . . . but have been given life . . . abundant life! But just as if I gave you a million dollars in your bank account . . . until you use it – the money will just sit there. So . . . .
You’ve been given an Abundant Life . . . Start living (and enjoying) it! 🙂
A Winner
Yes – my name, Lori, means “victorious one” – which means I am a winner (I’ve always hated losing! It’s my parents fault. 🙂 They named me Lori!). But trust me . . . there are many, many times in my life when I feel like I am not a winner. In fact, there are times where I feel like the biggest loser out there.
But here’s the good news . . . No matter how I “feel” . . . no matter what my feelings, actions, hormones, or even others are telling me . . . The truth remains that God really DOES see me as a Winner!
Romans 8:37 – “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.“
Did you get that? 🙂 We are MORE than conquerors! We are MORE than winners! (Man – how can you be “more than” a conqueror?! . . . Think about that for awhile!) But it’s not by our might, actions, good deeds, good intentions, etc . . . but only through Jesus (“him who loved us”)! It’s a FREE GIFT!! 🙂 (Yay! I LOVE free gifts!)
Read the rest of Romans 8:31-39. Good stuff in there! “If God is for us? Who can be against us?” Oh yeah! . . . Go read it! Let it sink in!
Never a Loser!
I love it that my 7 year old daughter has grasped hold of a concept that many adults have a difficult time with.
You are NEVER a loser to God! He loves you no matter what! And He promises to ALWAYS be there for you – to be there to help you – to be there to complete what He has started in you! And in the end – He is also definitely a winner! The enemy loses . . . he is the true loser! Not you! (but he’ll try to convince you that you are. My advice . . . Don’t listen to him! 🙂 Believe the one who always tells the truth – and who is Truth . . . not the “father of lies”.)
So if you’ve totally messed up today (or yesterday, or the day before, or the past 20 years . . .) – be encouraged . . .
“God thinks you’re a winner”!
You do NOT own your sins anymore. They’ve been bought and paid for. And if you try to pay penance, beat yourself up about your mistakes, or believe others (the enemy, other people, or even your own thoughts) that you are a loser because of what you have done (or haven’t done) . . . then you are doing something “illegal” . . . you are stealing what no longer rightfully belongs to you! 🙂 Jesus owns those sins . . . He paid the price . . . and He paid the biggest price anyone can pay . . . With His life!
He did that so that YOU could have Life . . .and have it “more abundantly”!
What are you doing with that Life He gave you?