Running for Victory

Nov 9, 2021 | Dennis Heppner, Lifestyle

running for victory

Running! That’s what life feels like for most people today. Hurry, hurry, hurry. Pressed, stressed, overloaded, trying to keep up with everything. It’s not just one thing—it’s lots of things and all at the same time.

When life is like that, you start avoiding the difficult things and difficult people. Life becomes fearsome; survival becomes the goal and victory is rarely on our minds. Instead of facing the challenges, we end up running from them.



What if we turned that around and began to believe in God as the Lord of the battles who never loses and empowers his people to be victorious?

On October 7, 1973, Israel was attacked by Syria, Egypt and Jordan simultaneously in the middle of the Yom Kippur national holiday. The nation of Israel was at ease, celebrating the Day of Atonement, and thousands of families were out together. War was not on anyone’s mind. But the war came and caught all of Israel by surprise.
The attack came after 9 months of planning by the enemy nations. Syria approached the Golan with 50,000 troops, 600 artillery, and 1200 tanks levelled at the Israeli military which only had 6,000 men, 60 artillery and 170 tanks on duty. Israel was outnumbered that day by 7-1 odds. Syria planned to walk right through the Golan Heights and eliminate Israeli opposition quickly. Israel thought the Golan could be defended with its meager forces and were caught by surprise. But they stood their ground. They resisted and battled on till they were down to a handful of tanks.

Lord, give us that kind of courage! To run at our Goliaths as the fearless David did, to face the impossibilities in our lives!

At one point, an Israeli tank commander saw the overwhelming odds and inexplicably ordered an attack. He later told this story: “I did like David in the book. (Torah) We ran towards our Goliath!” With a mere handful of tanks, his military held off Syria’s superior military until reinforcements came!

Lord, give us that kind of courage! To run at our Goliaths as the fearless David did, to face the impossibilities in our lives!

The direction we are running today says a lot about our faith. Often the army that is outnumbered actually wins the battles. Great men and women, the real winners, place all their faith in the God who gives victory! They run toward Goliath with a strong confession in God: “Goliath, today you are going down! I have just a few small stones, but behind me is a supernatural army, and by my God we will win this victory!”

You cannot run for victory by running away. A marathon runner or a sprinter runs with the finish line in sight. The victorious believer runs with victory in sight.

Faith in God requires action. You can choose the outcome of your battle today—run for victory!

MEDITATE

Are you taking action in the areas of your life that require faith? Are you still believing for victory even when things seem difficult or impossible?

STUDY

Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 22-28

PRAY

Heavenly Father, help me to run the race and not lose heart. I pray that I will not live in fear and live by faith instead, knowing that you are for me, that you fight my battles, and I can live a life of victory. I choose not to run away, and sprint forward until I see victory.

LIVE

Take action! Declare a strong confession in God: “Goliath, today you are going down! I have just a few small stones, but behind me is a supernatural army, and by my God we will win this victory!” #Faith #Victory #Declaration

Dennis Heppner grew up in Canada and was called to ministry as a young boy. Dennis and his wife Denie, who was also called to missions as a child, pastored 4 churches in Canada, but in 1987 the door opened to come to the Philippines as missionaries. They brought their 4 eldest children with them and the kids grew up here. In 2006 they adopted Emma Rose, a special Filipino treasure and a gift from God to their family.

Dennis has been a missionary evangelist in Asia for 25 years. He was the director of LIFESCHOOLS of ministry and pastored 3 churches in the early years of his ministry based in the Philippines. He is currently the founder and President of Developing Effective Leaders (DEL), superintendent of Church of God West Asia, and the founding and lead Pastor of the vibrant, growing Church of God Makati.

Dennis and Denie and their whole family, including Josh and Melody who live in Canada, are committed to missions, leadership, and the call of Christ.

Read more of Ptr. Dennis’s articles HERE.

Extended Bio HERE.

Help us REFRESH others with the life-giving Word of God today!


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