CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 974

“Overcomer”

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. (Psalm 52:8 (NLT))

Are you a survivor? In a time of catastrophe would you be the ‘last man standing’ – the only one not ‘voted off of the island’? Survival is good; Overcoming is better. A survivor just gets by. They make it through alive where others perish. In contrast an overcomer goes beyond survival and thrives in the midst of the difficult circumstances. An overcomer flourishes and bears fruit that nourish others as well.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:4)

The Bible tells of Daniel and Joseph who were both displaced from their homes and taken to foreign lands as slaves. Daniel refused to compromise on his relationship with God and he thrived. Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6:28)

Similarly we see Joseph tenaciously holding onto his relationship with God as he rose from a pit through slavery and imprisonment to ultimately ruling Egypt second only to Pharaoh. He later tells his brothers: “…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)

Daniel and Joseph were more than survivors, they were overcomers. They thrived despite their circumstances. They grew where they were planted and bore fruit to the benefit of others. Paul writes about learning the secret of thriving in his letter to the Philippians. I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11)

You may be experiencing numerous difficult trials. Perhaps you feel that you can scarcely take a breath between hits. Paul wrote about similar circumstances: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) Paul was an overcomer and he thrived in spite of the trials.

No matter how adverse your present circumstances are, know that God has not abandoned you. Plants thrive in the harshest of environments by sending their roots deep in search of water. Likewise, we need to go deeper in our relationship with Jesus to draw upon His living water which we need to thrive and also to be a source of nourishment to others. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law  of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1)

May you dive deep into the Living Water that is found in Jesus Christ. May your soul be saturated with His presence and love. May you know His perfect peace in the midst of your trials and may you overcome your trials in the power of His Name. May you go beyond surviving and thrive.