Victorious Breakthrough

but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57, AMP)

I want to share with you the secret to my joy through the trauma I experienced.  I don’t want you to think that I just easily overcame it.  That somehow it disappeared or that I’ve walked out these last few weeks trauma free.  That would not be true!  I’ve had moments where I broke down and cried.  Moments where I asked the question “Why?”  Moments where it was tough to find joy.  But one thing I have learned over and over again…  I have a choice on where to place my focus!

I can fix my eyes on the Lord or I can fix my eyes on my circumstances.  I can replay the events of yesterday over and over again or I can trust God with the next event of my life.  I can look back and wonder why or look forward and think why not?  I can stay in the trauma and mourn the loss of a few moments or fix my eyes on Jesus and all the moments God has yet to give me.

You see, I know God would not be upset if I lingered in my pain a little bit.  As a Father, He would comfort me, love me, and see me through it.  But as a Father He also wants the best for me.  And the best is not in yesterday.  The best is still ahead!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

My hope is in the Lord!  I find that when I fix my eyes on Jesus, my perspective on sad events changes.  I start to see purpose through it.  I start to find joy through it.  I experience hope because God is unchanging.  I receive a peace that passes all understanding as I focus on God’s faithfulness.  I quite easily could go the other direction, but why do that.  Why stop for a moment and focus on the negative?  Why entertain anything that doesn’t bring me closer Jesus?  I want to draw near to my Savior and remember what He went through for me.  The rest of Hebrews 12:2 reads,

“…who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus died for me!  There was no joy in the cross and bearing the burdens of my sins.  He didn’t experience happiness as His hands and feet were nailed to the cross.  He experienced real pain.  A pain that I will never fully know.  But yet, He saw ahead.  He saw the joy that lied before Him.  He focused on what God would do through His death and not the pain of going through it.  He is my best example of how to get through the tough moments of life.  I pray that I will have the mind of Christ and live out every moment to honor the death He died!

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8)

My Savior became obedient to death!  Jesus had to surrender Himself to death, even death on a cross.  The most humiliating and painful death of that time.  He did it for me!  He did it for you!  He didn’t look back at how He could have done things differently, He didn’t focus on the pain, and He didn’t give up.  He set God before Him and focused on the joy that would come through His resurrection.  I want to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith!  When my eyes are truly on the Lord, the circumstances of my life fade from view!

Where is your focus?  Are your eyes fixed on Christ?  Take time this week to place your focus on Jesus.  See how your perspective changes, as you shift the focus from yourself to Jesus!

Dear Father God, I pray that I will ever fix my eyes on You.  May I remember all that Jesus did for me!  He found joy in the most excruciating moment.  Lord, if Jesus can find joy in death… I can find joy in a few moments.  I can focus on You and know that You have a plan and a purpose!  You are worth every painful moment!  Please help me to live out today for Your glory alone!

Experiencing a Victorious Breakthrough,