I believe one of the major reasons for lack of victory within the Body of Christ is the lack of commitment. Psalm 37:5 gives us a sure avenue to victory, “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” The first step to victorious living is committing our ways, our thoughts, our lives unto Jesus, giving ourselves wholly to Him, because HE IS THE VICTOR! “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15) We are not victorious on our own merits, but only through Jesus and the authority He gives us can we conquer the battles before us.
Secondly, now that we know the victory is won, we need to learn to walk in it, commit to the things of God and the truth He has given to us. A commitment is a vow that determines our actions, no matter what. Before we commit to an action, we need to first make sure it is God’s desire for us, then we need to stick it out. He will not fail to supply what we need to fulfill our commitment if He has guided us in the direction we are going. It is when we act haphazardly and act according to our own will and our own desires that we fail. When we do that, often our decisions are based on a feeling or a whim and they are not based on a solid foundation.
Also, as a word of caution, we need to make sure that we don’t over-commit ourselves, or the danger lies in other areas of our lives falling apart for lack of attention. Multitudes of families have split because someone in the family tried to be everything to everybody and could not learn to say no when asked to do something. No one else can determine what God’s will is for you. There is always plenty that needs to be done, but we must be very careful to only do those things that God desires for us, otherwise it will be impossible to keep our vows and commitments, and our witness will suffer because we are not known as a person that keeps our word.
When we don’t base our
commitments on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit, then we
become prime target for any and every circumstance, every wind of doctrine, and
therefore, defeat. If God has let His will be known to you, then stay with it,
not wavering. If He hasn’t, then continue praying and waiting for His
direction.
The results of a lack of commitment are described in James 1:6-8, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” A lack of commitment is a lack of faith.
There have been many times in my life when I allowed my circumstances, or someone else’s requests or even my own feelings to dictate what I was doing with my life. I was not committed to the things I knew I should have been doing, and I can tell you, those were some of the most difficult times of my life. But when you are seeking the Lord for direction, let Him open doors for you and allow Him to lead you to go through them. And when you do that, you can know that He will go with you and what He desires for you to do will be totally successful!
The principal of commitment holds true to your prayer time, your Bible study, your job, your marriage, anything you know to be the thing God desires of you. COMMIT TO IT! Commitment doesn’t leave room for failure and you don’t have to constantly be trying to make decisions about the things you should do. You don’t even bother to consider any other option that would replace what you have already determined you need to do, because there is none. You’ve made a commitment and you take the steps necessary to fulfill what you have already committed to. That means, if you’ve made a commitment in marriage to love your husband or wife for the rest of your life, then divorce is not an option. You have to find a solution to your problems, and certainly having an affair is nothing you would consider. If someone stops by when it’s time to read your Bible, they must leave because you have made a commitment to God. If you are tired on Sunday morning and all you can think of is how good it would be to sleep late, you get up anyway, because you are committed to church attendance. We should be the ones in control of our lives and how we live it. We should not allow circumstances to control us.
If need be, sit down and list the things you know God wants you to do in their order of priority. Set a daily and weekly schedule, leaving plenty of time to spend with God in prayer, listening for further direction. Then, don’t allow anything to rob you of God’s best.
We often hear words of defeat that are based on mere speculation, and not founded on God’s Word or His divine direction. “Well, this must be God’s will or else it wouldn’t have happened.” My friends, we are at war!! We must never forget that we have an enemy and there is a battle to be fought. So often we are ready to throw in the towel and surrender without so much as a prayer. God never told us to roll over and play dead in the face of difficulty. Satan is evil and his job is to destroy us. He wants to steal our joy, take our children hostage, tear apart our homes and our lives, and divide the Body of Christ. He wants us to wallow in self-pity, unforgiveness and defeat, thinking there is no way out. God is not in favor of you leaving your job or church in dispute. If He gave it to you, He intends for you to stay there and be faithful to it, until He calls you elsewhere. God didn’t call anyone to sit in apathy while their home or marriage is being destroyed, or their children are going astray. We cannot continue to allow the enemy to rob us of God’s plan for our lives. If there is conflict at work, commit to being a peacemaker…at church, pray for the leaders. If Satan is trying to destroy your marriage, claim it back and work at it! God isn’t in favor of divorce. If your mind has become the devil’s playground, take charge of your thought life. Negative thoughts and criticism are not of God and will destroy the joy He provides for you. Dwelling on the wrong actions of others with bitterness in our hearts will spread like a cancer, causing you to withdraw and spiritually die in defeat. Whatever area you may be suffering defeat, take charge of it. Victory has already been accomplished, but we must put determined footwork to it.
1 Timothy 1:18 charges us
to “wage
the good warfare”. And that warfare begins on our knees, humbly seeking the
will of God. And then once we know His desire…commit to it, work at it, pray about
it, and stick it out. Victory in your life is assured!
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