Two-minute read.
In 1965, Corrie Ten Boom, a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, returned to Germany to speak about forgiveness. After one of her talks, a former guard from the camp where her sister died approached her, extending his hand and asking for forgiveness.
Corrie froze, later describing the struggle: every memory, every pain rising to the surface. In her humanity, forgiveness felt impossible. But she prayed and asked God for help. Then, by an act of obedience to her Savior, she reached out and took his hand.
Something unexpected happened, she later wrote that warmth flooded her, and she found the ability to genuinely say, ‘I forgive you.”
Victory came through Christ for Corrie in that moment. She defeated bitterness, hatred, and the lasting power of evil, exactly what Paul describes in his letter to the Corinthians. Victory comes in different ways; sometimes it looks like choosing forgiveness when you have every reason not to forgive, and other times it looks like hope in the middle of grief.
Paul starts with worship, victory begins when we recognize the source. Like David, when he faced Goliath, he fought in the name of the Lord, not on his own might but on God’s. When we allow the Savior to lead the way and fight our battles, we will find victory, not in our power but His.
God gives us victory when we do what Corrie did, what Paul did, and what David did. Asking the Lord for help leads to success. Corrie successfully forgave the guard when she asked her heavenly Father for help. Paul’s ministry had many divine victories, as did David’s battle against Goliath. We can experience the same victories when we put our trust in God and allow Him to lead the charge.
Seek the Savior and allow Him to lead you to victory, whatever battle you face today.
Reflection:
Where do you need to receive—not achieve—God’s victory in your life right now?
Joy Thought:
God has secured the victory and given it to you.
