OverwhelmedSample

Prevailed

“So David prevailed over the Philistine…” (1 Samuel 17:50)

How things had changed for the Israelites. For days they were overwhelmed, dismayed, greatly afraid, and ran for their lives. This giant was intimidating, seemingly impossible to overcome, and it paralyzed them to remain utterly defeated. Now, the one who overwhelmed them was himself overwhelmed, to the point of death. What David declared God would do came to pass. The victory was secured!

It’s amazing what happens when we prevail, or overwhelm, what seeks to overwhelm us. The Lord is glorified in the process as He reveals His faithfulness, love, goodness, and great power (1 Samuel 17:46). Prevailing against what should overwhelm us becomes a testimony to us and others, greatly increasing our faith and trust in God alone, especially for future challenges. When we prevail over the giant, we celebrate, rejoice, and enjoy the fruit of God working in us and through us. When God uses us to overwhelm the opposition, it causes others to watch and listen to what God is doing in our lives. They grow in their relationship with God and begin to run towards the enemy and utterly overwhelm and defeat their giants (1 Samuel 17:52, 2 Samuel 21:15-22).

Jesus Christ is the reigning and victorious King of kings and Lord of lords. He is also the Savior of the world, who has already prevailed against sin, death, and hell (Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55). Jesus Christ has crushed the devil and the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13, 2:15). He has prevailed over sickness and disease (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17). Jesus declared to the world that He prevailed, overcame, and sealed the victory! (John 19:30).

We become overcomers when we confess that we need Jesus, who alone makes us righteous and assures us eternity with Him (2 Corinthians 5:21, John 3:3, 16). When we trust fully in the work of Jesus on the cross for us personally and receive Him into our lives, we become a child of God (John 1:12). When we receive Christ, we receive all that He accomplished as an overcomer (Galatians 2:20-21), not by our works, but by His great grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When we accept Jesus, we have the Overcomer abiding with us forever. We are in Christ, and Christ in us. In Christ, we are not defeated but reign in life (Romans 5:17). As a child of God, we presently overwhelm the devil by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Jesus makes us more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37)

God has already provided the victory. Nothing can overwhelm the Lord. Like David, you will prevail, for the battle is the Lord’s. Depression, fear, worry, disease, addictions, confusion, lies, struggles have no chance to keep overwhelming you. Walk in the freedom for which Christ set you free, and overwhelm what seeks to overwhelm you.

“Be strong and of good courage: do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)