Victim Mentality

You can't play the victim and be on God's side of the battle.

We have all been a victim of destructive behaviors. Whether its betrayal, slander or prejudice etc. We have all felt the sting from acts of injustice. However, when we keep the victim mindset past the moment of wounding, we cannot win the holy war. A victory already promised to us as a child of God.

It is called mentality for a reason. It's a mindset.

Yes, our minds can be wounded. This is why we are called to constantly renew our minds.

"And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be ye transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove (for yourselves) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]." - Romans 12:2.

Yes, our hearts can be wounded. This is why we are called to guard them.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." - Proverbs 4:23.

Yes, our bodies can be wounded.  This is why we are called to lay hands on the sick and pray (or fast) for healing.

"They will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well." - Mark 16:18.

The truth is that if we are a child of God, the Bible says we fight from victory, not for it.

God gives us the victory through Jesus.

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

Not through yourself.

Not through your circumstances.

Not through another person.

Not even through the enemy walking away.

Through Jesus Christ.

With Him, the Bible tells us we do valiantly.

"With God we do valiantly, for it is He who will trample down our enemies." - Psalm 108:13

This means no matter who or what we are up against, we become a mighty force or army to reckon with. 

We are MORE than conquerors through Christ.

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]." - Romans 8:37

So, it's time we pick up that title as conqueror and lay down the white flag of surrender.

Everyone born in Christ OVERCOMES.

"For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world - our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]." -1 John 5:4

Not... is overwhelmed.

Not... is overpowered.

Not... is overcome by

but overcome(s)

The word victory in Hebrew is "nikos" and it means to triumph. One way to define that word triumph is to "gain mastery over." This is the ability we possess as a child of God. to master over the pain. To master over the enemy. To master over the stronghold. When we don't claim this right to master over, we automatically embrace defeat which is what places us on the losing side of the battle. The more we embrace victim mentality the less we embrace Kingdom mentality and we forget this birthright. As the old saying goes "You can only be a victim once, after that it's a choice." We cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we choose to respond to it. This doesn't mean we don't cry, grieve or mourn the hit. It means we process it, bring it to God and exchange it for His mindset which reminds us that not only will we have the victory over "this" but that....

People will be held accountable for the wrongs they have done.

"So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God." - Romans 14:12

God will be near to us when we are hurting and walking through grief or regret.

"The Lord is near to the heartbroken And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin)." - Psalm 34:18

Our prayers of faith are being heard.

"and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." - James 5:15

Even the evil and wicked people we encounter cannot destroy God's plans for us.

"The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil." - Proverbs 16:4

I don't know about you, but if my Jesus died for me to have the rights to this Victory - I AM CLAIMING IT!!!

Over every enemy that comes against me...

Over every circumstance trying to stop me...

Over every wound inflicted on my soul...

Over every sickness trying to overcome my body...

Over every lie set against me...

Over every oppression...

Over every depression...

Over every anxiety....

And even over myself when my mind tries to stray from Kingdom mentality into victim mentality.

I am also reminded that the only mindset I am to embrace is the mind of Christ.

"...But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]." - 1 Corinthians 2:16b

And He reminds us that His thoughts to and for us are only good. 

"For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you' says the Lord, 'plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

Sincerely Selena