Victory in His name

In being here in Africa just a few days, I cannot help but acknowledge the absolute deprivation and destitution these people on a daily basis. Honestly, it is overwhelming.  Sickness and disease runs wild, families are starving, babies are being abandoned, and people are committing ruthless crimes in an attempt to simply make it by. In my flesh it is easy to become discouraged and begin to question why I am even here. Obviously, I am not going to save the world or irradiate disease from the continent, that's for Jesus to do, but I can love. I can tend to one. Love one. And through that love, I pray that they would see the love their Creator has for them. That they are precious in His sight and created with  a purpose. There is victory in the name of Jesus. Through His death on and resurrection we are made victorious. The Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you VICTORY- Deuteronomy 2:4. We alone do not become victors by conquering the enemy. We become victorious through surrender to Christ and His will. We don not become victors by our independence from the enemy or the lack of influence he has on our lives. We become victors by our dependence on God. The road to freedom and life in abundance is quite the paradox, and almost humorous at times. In order to truly experience victory and freedom, we have to become captives. We need to develop and nurture minds that are captive to  Christ. We are most free when our minds are captivated by the Father. Victorious lives flow from victorious thoughts, and victorious thoughts come from seeking the face and heart of a victorious God.