Throughout biblical history, the Lord continually exhorts His people to tell the stories of the miraculous victories that they have witnessed and testimonies of successes that they have experienced. They were instructed to their children— and then their children’s children. Why? Because the testimony of Jesus— regarding past victories and successes sets a foundation of faith for future victories and future generations. They prophesy of God’s faithfulness and favor into your life and the lives of those who hear them.
Throughout the Old Testament, we read of monuments being erected in the place where a victory was won. Why? Because they created a place of remembrance. A monument is a place that declares God’s promise was fulfilled to those who dared to trust in Him and follow His ways.
All too often, even among believers, people live with a life perspective of “the glass half empty.” This perspective sets a precedent of believing for lack or disappointment. Unfortunately, the enemy will see the other half of that glass that faith has not filled and use it as unoccupied space to wreak havoc in a believer’s life. It’s like putting out a sign that says, “Open Season” to the powers and principalities that seek to devour you. Faith in God and in every word that He has ever spoken must fill the cup of our lives— leaving no space unoccupied or open to the enemy.
Faith and unbelief cannot coexist. Unbelief will seep into the purity of faith and pollute it. This will cause the believer to no longer recall the stories of victories in their lives but will create a focus on the disappointments, delays and what they perceive as personal failures. This focus will begin to drain the half filled cup of faith until unbelief becomes the only thing in the cup of their life.
There have been seasons of my life that surely could have set a precedent of defeat or unbelief, especially during my younger years. From dealing with years of infertility to financial struggles to depression and even losing homes to fires— but my monuments were not laid in those places but rather in the place where the Lord brought miraculous victories amid impossible circumstances.
I recount the miraculous adoption of our oldest daughter (and I mean MIRACULOUS!), the conception of our next three children, the provisions that came time and time again when our family was living out of our country on absolute faith, the homes provided after the loss of a home— far better homes and furnishings, deliverance from depression that lead to international open doors— and the list goes on.
If I had built monuments or only passed on the stories of hardships then I would have passed on a legacy of being a victim— I would have prophesied into my future and my children’s future defeat and victimization. If I had done that then people who met me might have had compassion on me but they would have only seen the face of defeat. But, no one in my life sees me that way at all. They see the face of favor because they see the faithfulness of God. His victories in my life are the points that I have built monuments and are the stories I recount. And they prophesy to my future and to my children’s future— and to your future.
I will not be remembered as “Kathi the Victim” but “Kathi the Victorious”— because of His favor and His faithfulness!
Mankind has even labeled biblical figures wrongly. Such as how they label the disciple, Thomas. He has been historically labeled “Doubting Thomas” because he battled with his mind when his resurrected Christ stood before him. What we forget to remember about Thomas is that this man was privileged to be counted as one of the twelve who walked with Jesus, lived with Him, ate with Him, witnessed countless miracles, and then witnessed His lifeless, crucified body put into a grave.
We forget the shock and awe that must have filled the room when the resurrected Christ stood before him— an awe that surpassed human understanding or comprehension. What an honor and privilege to be counted among the few who knew Him, loved Him, and were able to touch our risen King. But we merely remember that Thomas battled with doubting his human mind as he witnessed a miracle that was so unprecedented that it caused his mind to question what his eyes were seeing. We should call him “Honored Thomas” but we’d rather remember him for his frail humanity.
If you struggle with doubt or negative thoughts that have led you to unbelief— make a list of God’s blessings and victories in your life— no matter how small. Begin to recount them, retell them, and build a spiritual monument of remembrance there. Take inventory of the cup in your life. Is it half full? If so, the empty space is unoccupied and open for the enemy to occupy.
Occupy your entire life with faith in God. This will cause an overflow of miraculous victories, unprecedented favor, and amazing stories to pass on to your children and your children’s children. Posture your life for victories and remember that every impossible circumstance is merely the stage for an impossible breakthrough. Some take days, some take years but victory is still the end result. Your cup will “runneth over!”
Don’t allow your name to be attached to victim or defeat or failure. That is merely the enemy occupying that glass that is half empty. Fill yourself up with hope, faith, love, and expectation of favor and blessings. Identify as a victor and a favored son or daughter. This is your right and your inheritance.
Today is the day to shift the narrative and fill your cup with faith and hope. Take back the place that the enemy has occupied— for he is trespassing and you have the legal right to evict him. But you must occupy that area of your life with faith, trust, and hope. Victory belongs to you.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
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