You don’t need to be defeated by anything! Why? Because the enormous power of God and the strength-giving power of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can enable you to avoid any defeat.
This isn’t to minimize circumstances. Life can be overwhelming. And if you are in the midst of troubles and woes just now, it may seem incredible that anyone would say, “Never accept defeat.” But God wants us to be victorious! He built us to be overcomers!
So how do you go about never accepting defeat? Use these three principles:
1. Never think defeat.
If you feel defeated and you think, I’m tired and weary and I’ve had it that is exactly how it will be. But if, when the going gets rough, you think, I won’t accept this. I will continue to think victory and not defeat, then all the resources of your nature flow toward achieving victory. One way to cancel out thoughts of defeat is simply to repeat that text from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It will knock any defeatism right out of you!
2. Stick it out and never stop trying.
How many times have you failed at something because you simply didn’t try hard enough or long enough? The test of an individual’s character is how determined he is. You must get hold of an idea and never let go. If you have an objective, and a roadblock gets in the way, you must get around, or underneath, or over or through the barrier. No roadblock should stop you. You must keep on keeping on. “Let us not become weary…we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
3. Keep God in it.
Nobody can be as strong, vital and heroic as I have suggested without the presence of God. This is an overwhelming world, and we are very small. It is like the prayer the Normandy fishermen offer when they go out on the deep to fish. Before they cast off their tiny boats, they pray: “O Lord, take care of us. The sea is so vast. We are so small.” God does and will take care of you. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
The secret of meeting life victoriously is how close you are to God, how deeply and sincerely you receive Jesus Christ into your life. If you give your life to God, if you commit your life to Christ, if this becomes your consuming passion, you will have immunity—not from difficulty, but from defeat. And that is all we can ask.
