Claim Victory Before the Battle is Won!

2. Our outlook changes because we can be confident, even in the most discouraging of seasons.

In the Christian life, the Holy Spirit is that overwhelming force. His presence in us reassures us of victory. And that means even on the darkest of days, we can find encouragement. The internal source of our sin may still be wreaking havoc. We may still be living in the past. But the outcome of the war has already been written.

We live in the past, but Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross shows us that future glory is coming.

Sometimes I look at my heart, and I get so discouraged. Why do I still struggle so much with self-control? Why does pride still pop up in my heart so quickly and easily? Why do I almost never instinctively give people the benefit of the doubt? Why is generosity so hard for me?