JOEL OSTEEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY 8TH APRIL 2023 – OVERWHELMING VICTORY

We all face situations that should hold us back. What we’re up against is bigger and stronger, and it’s easy to be intimidated and live in fear, thinking that we can never move forward. But the Scripture says, “Because you belong to God, you have already defeated the enemy” (1 John 4:4). What’s against you has already been defeated. God is not in the heavens fighting with the enemy, trying to free you, heal you, deliver you, or favor you. The battle has already been won.

On a Friday over two thousand years ago, Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified on a cross for our sins and died in our place. They put Him in the tomb. It looked as though it was over. All of hell was celebrating, the demons rejoicing. But on that third day, on Resurrection Sunday, Jesus, our elder brother, rose from the dead, came out of the tomb, and said to all of us, “There’s nothing to fear. I have the keys to death and hell. I have triumphed over death and the enemy.

I’ve cleared the path. I’ve gone ahead of you and taken care of anything that could harm you or hold you back.” He took care of it once and for all. We don’t have to live in fear of what we’ve done in the past, fear of the future, or be worried about what we’re up against now. The prince of this world may come against us as a roaring lion, but the writer of Hebrews says, “Jesus rendered the enemy powerless” (Hebrews 2:14). Another translation says, “Jesus brought him to naught,” which means zero. He has no power over us. He’s been dethroned, defanged, and brought to zero.

Here’s the beauty: Because you belong to God, because you’re His child, you have already defeated the enemy. You need to see anything you face in life as defeated. Don’t pray for victory; pray from victory. “Father, thank You that I am free, healed, forgiven, prosperous, and victorious.” But the challenge is that even though our enemy is defeated, he makes a lot of noise. “He prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8). He’s like a lion, not a lion.

He’ll roar negative thoughts, such as, “That sickness will be the end of you. You’ve made too many mistakes. Nothing good is in your future.” Do yourself a favor: Ignore the roar. Don’t believe his lies. When those thoughts come, just give him the zero sign. Remind him: “You have no power over me. You’ve already been defeated. Because I belong to God, I will walk in victory. I will walk in health. I will prosper and succeed. I will stay in peace in the midst of a storm.”