Paul wrote of his struggle with his flesh in Romans 7. Verse 23 says, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

Romans 6:13 is really clear. It says, “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Stop reading and say this out loud. “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”

Romans 6 is a great foundational chapter of understanding how to live as more than a conqueror. Verse 11 says, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dead things have NO ability to respond in any way, shape, or form. Reckon is to consider something. 

The Greek word for the title describes someone who is super victorious, who wins more than an ordinary victory, but who is overpowering in achieving abundant victory. It is the language of confidence.

Paul wrote Romans 8:37 in reference to our trials. Through them we are empowered to be more than conquerors. There is an interesting verse in Revelation 6:2. It says, “…he went out conquering and to conquer.” Speaking of the present and future.

What do you need to conquer in your life right now? Once that is accomplished what is your next one? I am reminded over and over of John 6:63. It says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.”

Our words are an indicator of what is stored in our hearts. We are either speaking death words or life-giving words. Proverbs 18:21. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Jeremiah was in dire straits. Yet as he recalled Who the Lord is at all times, Lamentations 3:24 was his declaration. It says, “The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!” His relationship with the Lord anchored him. He stood on the truth that God was always faithful.

2 Timothy 2:13 is one of my anchor verses. It says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” Anchor verses secure our hearts. My dad always wrote Psalm 27:13 in funeral guest books. It says, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Living hope is like now faith. It is a present truth that holds us steadfast when we feel emotionally shaky.

Here is another of my anchor verses. Psalm 71:3. It says, “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” I encourage you to review your anchor verses today.

In Ezekiel 37 the children of Israel are pictured as dry bones ~ hopeless. Verse 11 says, “…Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” This is pre-cross. A child of God is never hopeless. Why?

Our hope is found in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Hebrews 6:18 says, “…it is impossible for God to lie…” so that, “…we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” Our living hope is described in verse 19. 

It says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” Ships set out anchors to secure their position in storms. 

Psalm 119:147 says, “I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.”

I love Ephesians 3:16 in the Amplified. It says, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit (Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality).”

January 2, 2017 I had another brain injury. If I tried to think I got physically weak. The Lord sustained me by giving me what He wanted me to think about. One line at a time, that I kept in my mind until He gave me another.

Here is one: “I am right now being strengthened and reinforced, in and by and through Your mighty power.” There is construction going on near me. They strategically placed rebar in footings for a cement block retaining wall. Rebar is essential to reinforce the wall so it can overcome any adverse circumstances.

David was overwhelmed, but he cried out to the Lord in Psalm 61:1-2. The Rock of our salvation is our indestructible shelter ~ His steadfast love is our refuge in the midst of our hard trials.

Paul asked a question in Romans 8:35 then listed several adversities. It says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

In verse 37 he answered that those very things were the Lord’s vehicle to overcome through His love. It says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Let’s go back to our salvation. Romans 5:5. It says that, “…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Our heart was flooded with His love. 

Trials, adversities, and hardships produce perseverance. Verse 3-4 says, “…knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” James 1:3 says, “Knowing that testing of your faith produces patience.”

It is all part of our progressive sanctification to help us grow and mature. His goal is stated in verse 4 which says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Just to refresh your memory. Daniel did all to stand through trust. The king came the next morning and called out to Daniel. He answered in Daniel 6:22. It says, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths…because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

Daniel was unharmed. Yet, those who plotted evil against him? Daniel 6:24 says that the king had them thrown into the lion’s den. The lions killed them, “…before they ever came to the bottom of the den.”

We stand in the strength of the Lord through purpose of heart, prayer, heart integrity, no compromise, and no wrong. Our lifestyle is a testimony of God’s interventions. We are watched by believers and unbelievers alike. Are we displaying strength or weakness, jealousy or humility, or our fleshly reactions instead of responses to the Holy Spirit?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood in God’s strength when everyone else bowed down. Daniel 3:17-18 says, “…Our God is able to deliver us…but if not…we do not serve your gods…”

I read through the book of Daniel. In chapter one Daniel purposed in his heart to not eat the king’s food. In chapter two the Lord stopped the edict of slaying all the wise men when Daniel prayed.

In chapter three, the three young Hebrew men withstood the king’s command to bow down to his idol. Heart integrity. As a result they were bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. Yet, the Lord met them inside there. 

In chapter six the king signed a decree. It was an evil plot. Anyone who petitioned any god or man except the king would be cast into the lion’s den. Daniel knew the writing was signed. Yet he prayed and gave thanks to the Lord. No compromise.

Why was Daniel targeted? Daniel 6:3 says, “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” Jealousy.

Ephesians 6:13 says to take up the armor the Lord has graciously supplied, “…and having done all, to stand.”

Jesus stood before Pilate. In John 18:37-38 Jesus said, “…Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. Pilate said to Him, What is truth?” Truth stood right before him, yet he could not perceive it.

The Bible is full of truth. Yet it is only print on a page for us until it becomes our experience. John 8:32 says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

The truth that we bring into our hearts through memorizing and meditating becomes the unshakeable foundation of our freedom from past hurts. Also from the lies of the enemy that penetrated and set up internal strongholds.

James 1:21-22 says, “…receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Without deep abiding truth, we will bite the bait of the devil’s deceptive lures. He works diligently to overthrow our faith. We stand through abiding truth undergirding our faith.

We live in spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:14-18 Paul detailed our armor. In verse 11 it says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” What are the devil’s wiles? It is deception in every aspect.

Verse 13 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” How do we stand? Verse 14 says, “Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth…”

1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind…” It is a picture of the Orientals gathering up their long robes with a belt to prepare for action. We cannot run the race of our life with the lies of the enemy entangling our feet.

We are never more secure than when we are standing in experiential truth. It is His truth that keeps us free, no matter what the temptation is. Proverbs 1:17 says, “Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.”