VICTOR OR VICTIM? Peggy Kannaday We Can Have the Victory in Every Situation! (952 words) As a Christian, the choice of becoming a victim or a victor is up to each one of us individually. What is the key element to becoming a victor? It is to love and praise God in the midst of the affliction, persecution, suffering, or sorrow. Jesus said that in the world we would have tribulation but to be of GOOD CHEER because He had overcome the world. When we praise God during a difficult time, it may seem as though we are being hypocritical, but that is not the case. Our praise is never based on how we feel, or what the circumstances may or may not be at the time, but they are grounded on the facts about God; the attributes of the One being loved and praised. When we truly love God with all our hearts and are called to His purpose; we can rest in the fact that He IS working everything out for our GOOD no matter how the circumstances may appear. "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Some of us are always wanting to know the will of God for our lives, i.e. who will I marry or what will I be doing in 5 years from now, etc. The whys, whens, and wherefores of our lives are really insignificant compared to our relationship to the Lord, but if your relationship with Him is right then the guidance by the Holy Spirit will come automatically. In Truth, what is the constant and perfect will of God at all times? It is to, "rejoice EVER- MORE, pray WITHOUT CEASING and in EVERYTHING to give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (I Thessalonian 5:16-18). The Greek words for rejoice, pray, and give thanks are in the present imperative tense which means it is a commandment to do these things, and it also will involve repeated or continuous action on our part. This action changes our whole attitude, and makes us thankful and pliable in the Master's Hands, even in our darkest hours. It is your decision whether you want to bask in self-pity, condemnation of others, UN forgiveness, fear, and doubt or to obey the Lord and rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks. When is praise most effective in our lives? When it is offered as a sacrifice to God in obedience. This type of offering unto God is well pleasing to Him, as it is of faith and not feeling. "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name" (Hebrews 13:15). "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23). Our faith is stretched as we praise Him in hard times, and then we can be lifted miraculously through the afflictions by His power. Our eyes must always be on Him and never on the problem at hand. In essence, the problem should not be viewed in a negative way, but as an opportunity to see the unfolding of God's sovereign plan and purpose, as we surrender it to Him in praise, worship and prayer. It is necessary for us to come into these situations in order to have our faith tried and to produce patience and build Godly character. "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2-4). To respond to an uncomfortable situation by allowing negative thoughts to dominate our think- ing could cause us to fall into the snare of the enemy who will be there to work adversity in the situation for a child of God. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8). There is an old saying which goes something like this, "We don't sing because we're happy, but we're happy because we sing." We don't always praise God because we feel like it; we praise Him because He is worthy to be praised at all times. What does praise produce in us? It produces joy. Joy is not the absence of sorrow, but it is the presence of the Lord. We enter into His presence with praise and thanksgiving. He inhabits the praises of His people. What are those in God's presence doing right now? They are praising Him as they can see Him as He is. We are to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. This is the way into the presence of the Lord. Psalms 100:2-5, " Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." Our total victory rests in our adoration of the King of the Kingdom of God. This is what we will be doing throughout eternity, and it will be our greatest joy. "Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee" (Psalms 67:3).