When a champion speaks
Martha Olawale
“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4
If you’ve heard a champion speak, you'll see and hear the confidence that can only come from a place of certainty of victory. The voice may be calm, yet everyone listens because it resonates. This is especially true after the race or battle is won. I am not talking of a weightless, proud noise from an empty cymbal but a declaration of strength from one who knows exactly what he/she is talking about.
A champion might have sore limbs or even a bloody nose as evidence of a brutal fight, but that does not stop him/her from talking from the place of victory. Being a winner gives you an edge over your opponent because you are rested when you already know the fight's outcome. Although you hurt from the punches and falls, you expect they’ll heal again.
As Christians, the battle is not ours; it’s God’s. We know who wins before we even step into the arena to fight. While we are not promised a battle-free life, God declares us champions, and as such, we should project the spirit and speak like it. Yes, our hearts and bodies might get a few bruises to prove we’ve been on the battlefield, but our souls cannot be crushed.
God’s command to His people in Deuteronomy 20:1 is, “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.” How awesome is it to know the score of a match before it even starts? God promised victory, and He is as committed to this today as He was in the days of old.
The salvation clarion does not call us to live in denial of the battles raised against us; Jesus wants us to know about them when He said, “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world” in John 16:33. God’s assured presence makes the difference in the lives of believers because instead of fighting alone, He fights for us. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you; when you pass through fire, you will not be burned.” If you walk with Jesus, your victory is as day and night that will not cease.
We live defeated when we don’t know the strength of the God who fights for us, believing that the bruises and bumps we sustain in the fight are signs of defeat when they are simply battle scars. Just because the enemy threw a few lucky punches does not mean he wins. As you get to know God and understand the power of being His child, you’ll approach life’s battles differently. The strain will hurt, but they can’t destroy you. You are a winner, always, because no matter how many times you fall, you’ll be the last man/woman standing, and the last one standing speaks like a champion.
