Are you feeling defeated?
Frustrated that things never seem to “quite go right”?
Flooded by disappointments, past regrets, missed opportunities and more...
If so, you are like many others. Many have reached a point in their life where they’ve accepted defeat. Much like the basketball team whose 15 points down with 30 seconds left in the game, we’ve decided to just give up mentally.
I mean why bother to keep striving when things never work out.
It is what IT is.
Then we are faced with this taunting idea that Christians should have an abundant life. We are told Christians should be joyous, fruitful, reapers of His promises. We are told we are victorious in Jesus name. Yet, we find ourselves here with a defeated perspective.
A mindset of defeat will always keep you downtrodden and expecting the worst. The defeated mindset will rob you of your zeal and passion to get up and try again.
The defeated mindset will convince you to say “no” to God when He’s trying to elevate you to the next level.
We see this very clearly with the story of Moses. From Genesis 3 to Genesis 4, God communicates His desire to use Moses to be the “rescuer” of the Israelites. His job was to communicate with Pharaoh that the Israelites were to be set free. However, Moses is not excited about the opportunity to do what was already his heart cry (Exodus 2:11-12). Instead Moses begins to explain to God why he is not the best choice.
I am unqualified.
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11
What if I’m not accepted?
Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Exodus 4:1
But I lack confidence.
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Exodus 4:10
Moses had a list of reasons he was not the “man for the job.” He had convinced himself that he wasn’t good enough to make this happen. Before he ever approached Pharaoh or the obstacle, he decided it wasn’t going to work out. Before he uttered a word, he was defeated. Although, he had direct instructions and strategy from God, he allowed his perspective of himself to dictate how he viewed the opportunity.
The defeated perspective focuses on you, while the victorious perspective focuses on Him.
The defeated perspective takes account for MY past, MY insecurities, MY thoughts.
The victorious perspective embraces HIS thoughts about me, HIS promises, and HIS plans for my life.
Consider the story of David and Goliath. We often focus on the young David who takes down the giant when all other failed. However, I believe, the key to David’s success lies in the following two passages.
Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:36-37
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. 1 Samuel 17: 45-46
It’s very clear that David trusted in God to make him victorious against Goliath. He exuded a confidence that because God had rescued me before, he would do it again.
David had a mindset of victory. As we know, David would move forward to beat Goliath with ease. There was not even a tussle between the two. David was MORE than a conqueror.
Yet, David’s battle began way before he ever laid eyes on the giant. He took place in his mind and through experiencing God’s power in his life repeatedly.
This brings us back to the mindset of defeat. The question is, what have you accepted as your truth. Do you cower like Moses when presented with an opportunity or arise like David? What you believe about yourself will be what keeps you in bondage or what sets you free.
Friend, I encourage you to ask yourself if you’ve been operating out of a mindset of defeat. We see throughout the story of Moses he was never quite victorious. He has great epic moments, yet struggled to lead and have his voice heard. I’m certain that this started all because of his mindset from his first encounter with God.
The defeated mindset will block you from your victorious life. I pray that you begin to hold onto God’s promises for your life. I pray that you start to focus, like David, on the things He’s brought you through. I pray you refocus your eyes on who He is versus who you BELIEVE you are not.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.- Romans 12:2
I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. - 2 Corinthians 2:14
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