O that I might find every defeat an occasion to rejoice in God my Saviour with Whom there is no defeat. O that I would find each setback a motivation to set myself back on the path to the Celestial City and the throne of God Most High. O that every time I am crushed by circumstances or evil design that I would sing the song, “The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties” (Romans 8:37 God’s Word).

victory-puppetO that I could in real terms live as though “These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ. It’s far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8 God’s Word). O that I could have eyes to see that good becomes worthless, but so does the bad, so that I will not focus on what I have or successes, nor dwell upon my losses or bitter defeats, for both alike have no glue to hold me to this world.

“It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.  Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think. However, we should be guided by what we have learned so far” (Philippians 3:12-16 God’s Word).