Are you facing any struggles in your life right now? Are you in any kind of pain? Fighting a physical illness? An annoying co-worker or client? Fighting against fear due to unemployment, debt, or financial troubles? Are you struggling with an addiction? Are you battling sinful thoughts in your own head? Whatever it is that you are facing, God longs to remind you that you are “more than a conqueror through Him who loved you!” (Romans 8:37) What does ‘more than a conqueror’ mean? Isn’t it enough to be a conqueror? Yet, God says we are “more than conquerors.”

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Think of the shepherd boy David, who later would be made King of Israel, when he went into the valley to slay the 9’ 9” giant Goliath who taunted and mocked him. There were enormous consequences at stake in this battle. If David lost, he certainly would die, and all of his countrymen— including his brothers— would be made slaves. However, even knowing that, David approached Goliath with bold confidence, as if he had already won the battle. How could he do that? He focused his attention on God, on His power and His past faithfulness, not on his own abilities or the circumstance in front of him. (1st Samuel 17:36-37) David’s mouth spoke prophetically of God’s divine victory over this formidable foe because he knew the character of God and put his faith in Him!

Next, David picks up five stones as he prepares to kill Goliath. David did not pick up five stones in case he missed Goliath with the first one or two. David picked up five stones knowing that Goliath had four brothers who may join the fight after Goliath’s demise. David came as a conqueror spewing words of faith and victory before the victory was won! He also came to the battle equipped for the possibility of more battles to occur in the valley. Are you expecting to win, yet prepared for more attacks that may come, relying on the Stone that is in your possession?

Jesus is “the stone that the builders rejected…” (Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7) Are you looking to Jesus and His strength to win your battles, or are you trying to fight them in your own power? It is only through Him that we are more than conquerors! He is our “Rock”, and our sure foundation.

God has made us victors in Christ. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our

Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

Nothing can separate you from this love that promises victory in Christ Jesus. You are more than a conqueror. You have gained access to all authority on heaven and earth through Jesus

Christ. Do not doubt this truth. In your valley, begin now to speak and pray as if your battle has already been won; see yourself as the fearless victor through Christ’s strength at work in you. Then, like David, you will be able to claim, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) 

Written by Jamie Shaver