"Over"Comers

Sorry it's been several days since I wrote.  I have been "under the weather" as they say.  Just the thought of looking at the computer screen made my head hurt worse.  Praise God, however, that I am doing better today!

Our long time Pastor, George Cowper, always had a great line when he would ask someone how they were doing and they responded with, "Pretty good, under the circumstances."  He would say, "What are you doing under the circumstances?"  I have always thought,"What a good point!"  So, when I say I've been "under the weather," I really say it tongue and cheek.  Not because I haven't been sick, but because I didn't feel like I was under anything.  You know what I mean?

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4 AMP

Jesus made us OVERcomers!  Sure, in this life, we have sickness, disease, hurts, trials, tests, attacks, and on and on, but we are still OVERcomers!  It is really important that we renew our mind to this Truth.  Some would think it's being a little picky, a little legalistic to "argue" over words such as "under the weather" or "under the circumstances," but we must understand the power and effect of our words.  I'm not trying to be legalistic nor do I think that everyone who uses these phrases is under anything.  I just want to make a point.

Do you understand that you are an OVERcomer?  Do you know that you are an OVERcomer?  Do you know why you are an OVERcomer?  Do you know how you are an OVERcomer?  We must make this Truth a part of our lives.

It's important to measure our words: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].  Jesus is Life, and in Him we have Life, not death.  Therefore, our words should be words of Life.  Things come our way that make us think we'll never make it through.  Sure, we feel like we are dying.  Rightly, we may be dying to ourselves, our own desires, and our own will, but that is so we can live and have Life!

Our words are directly related to our heart:  The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure (stored) in his heart produces what is upright (honorable, and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.  What we speak tells us what's inside of us.  Have you ever said something and then wondered, "Where did that come from?"  Our words often make us examine what's going on inside.  Our heart directs our thoughts and our thoughts direct our words.

Our heart and thoughts have direct impact on our being and our doing:  For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.  We must renew our minds daily because our thoughts generally become actions.  We not only want words that are OVERcoming but actions that are Overcoming.

Life doesn't always hand us what we want.  Many things in life are extremely difficult.  Sometimes it seems that some people suffer a lot more than others, but all suffer at some time.  Yet, in the midst of difficulties and suffering, we are still OVERcomers!  Another friend of ours who is a Deacon in the Body of Christ, Jess Groves, always says, "Attitude is everything!"  How true this is!  I've read another quote that states, "Life is 10% what we make it and 90% how we take it!"

Let's take it as OVERcomers!

Scriptures for reference and study: Proverbs 18:21; Luke 6:45; Proverbs 23:7