The Hope Hotline - How Hard Is It To Live In Victory?

Episode Date: May 13, 2026

The Hope Hotline | S04-E28 | 05-13-2026

Hello and welcome to the Hope Potline. It is a beautiful Wednesday. Got some rain this morning. Looking for some rain this afternoon. I'm always telling you the weather here in Florida. I was very excited about the rain. I didn't have to water my plants, my beautiful flowers. I don't water anything.

Yeah, because yours aren't new. I had to plant all new flowers because my house is done now so I can have all these beautiful plants. You're still watering? Yeah, because we even had any rain. Every time I go out there, they're like looking rough. So I have to water them like every day. Did you get rains hit?

I did. I did. So I didn't want to them. And you won't have to do this afternoon. It's between two and four. It says we'll get some more rain. And tomorrow. It's supposed to rain a few, it's supposed to rain a few days this week. We need it. We do. We do. Again. We need it. It's a beautiful thing. I like summer thunderstorms. Me too. Yeah. Did you have, when you grew up in Maine, did you have some afternoon thunderstorms? Massachusetts not too often. I mean Massachusetts. I know. Yeah, they're close. Not really, not like here. Like, I mean, we, like, there was thunderstorms

throughout the summer, but nothing like Florida. But it was good for my, because my family owns a well business. So when thunderstorms struck, it was like money, chiching. So we love thunderstorms. I grew up here until I was 10. Right. And then moved to D.C. for like 14 years. And then we obviously move back. But I'm telling you, like, we always look, in the summertime, we always, always look forward to the afternoon thunderstorms and they were like clockwork. They're not like as much clockwork as they used to be back in the day. But I mean literal clockwork and you would get the reprieve of the heat. Right. It was it was so awesome. It was a beautiful thing. And like I look forward to it but it's not like it used to be. It's climate change. I'm telling

you. Totally. Absolutely. Just kidding. I don't know. Everything's cyclical, right? It'll go back to being like that at some point where it is like that because it's happening it it's like every 10 years things change or something it's like our body like it's every seven years your body changes what does the farmer's ominac say about this summer I don't know but you can count on it though yeah farmers farmer's almanac is always always right right what is it saying well the thing I saw recently is because it's like il nino something again so they're thinking that we're not got to have, we'll have named storms, but they won't be as drastic as they have been. That's what I saw too in the farmers on my neck.

Like it's not as bad as it has been. Yeah, they're expecting it to be more calm this year. Very calm. Which, thank you. No, please. Unless they allowed that. True, I know. You know, whatever that seating is called, cloud seating or whatever.

Tell you what. Which the Santa says put the kibosh on. Thank God. You got that right, girl. Oh, my God. Now you got that right. So today, are you going to tell me, are you looking it up still? I was trying, yeah, but I'm not finding it.

It's like planting calendar, so I didn't ask chat. I actually Googled it. So, of course, it's going to take me like 10 years to figure this out. That won't work. Yeah, I'll look. I'll see if I find anything good. Just do the, I mean, it's not helping. It's not changing anything by sharing in whatever.

But do our little, a couple of the announcements, like what's Friday nights coming up and just disregard the rest of them. Let's just, let's forge ahead. Okay. Perfect. All right. Perfect. All right. So exactly what Hope just said.

Friday night is the night. And you guys have to be here. And when I say, guys, I mean ladies, because guys, you're not allowed to come. Even if you identify as one, you have to be a woman. And we did do child care. Is that correct, Hope? Do we do child care? No.

No child care. Not this time. Okay. So no child care this time. So we are just going to be the ladies. So leave your husbands in charge. Leave some candy and some ice cream and some pizza. And bring just the girls.

And so we'll have so much fun. It's always such a good time. If you've never been to an event like this, you definitely want to join us. We'll be having worship. We will have an incredible speaker. we will have an incredible time in the word. And so it's one of these things that, like, really, we don't want to live in this place

where we're just constantly needing this poking and prodding. But sometimes you just need a little bit of a lift. And so this is a really cool night. Plus, it's so fun to just be with the ladies. And as you guys know, we have a ladies conference coming up in August. So this is kind of like a little taste of what it's like to be with a bunch of women that love the Lord and want to honor him and worship. him and do all the things together and every time there's such good fruit that comes out of it so we would

love for you guys to come um Friday night 7 to 9 p.m. right here at foundation church um and then that's pretty much it that's what I got for tonight coming back to us here we are she's stalling i'm sweating oh really yeah but i was cold okay Norma said it was hot in here but Norma's always hot. Yeah, I don't count. I don't take her seriously. Okay. So, is Talia over there?

Hello, Talia. I'm like, I didn't say hey to you since I came in. Hello. Okay. So, today I wanted to talk about, did I say what we're going to talk about today? You have not? Yep. Oh, last week?

Oh, no, I don't think you did. Because when it came through, I was like, ooh, I like this. I don't think I said what. What I wanted to talk today about is victory. And so many people say they walk in victory, but I say to that, are you really walking in victory? Because a lot of times, I think a lot of Christians, they believe they are and they love God. and because they love God and they are living an obedient lifestyle, they feel like that's victory. But that's not really what victory is because, I mean, it is, but it's not because victory

encompasses many, many things. And a lot of times people are stuck in their ways. They're stuck in anxiety. They're stuck in fear. You're stuck in temptation. And temptation doesn't mean. sin. It doesn't always mean sin. And so for me, a victorious life is is walking when those things come your way, they have no effect on you. They're not even something that you really speak about.

Like if you're having an anxious moment, if something is making you, let's see, for example, If something's going on in your family that is causing you to be anxious, do you go and you tell everybody about it? Or do you keep it between you and the Lord and you work through it with the Lord? A lot of times people get their counsel from other people in order to get the relief that they're looking for, which is victory. Instead of going straight to God, who the scripture is Chuck Full, which will go through today. but instead of going to him, working it through with him, getting to the other side of it. And the other side of it doesn't mean that I see what I'm believing for. No.

Like the victory is being victorious in the moment of not seeing what you're believing for or what's causing you to be anxious or fearful or tempted. and you don't do, you don't live in that realm, even though you don't see it, you don't live in that realm and you walk as if it's already taken place. That's living in victory. Obedience and being obedient, that's also victory. That's a great victory. But so many Christians, so many Christians are, they live in a cycle of the same old thing.

all the time and they never get off that hamster wheel all the while they think they're victorious and you're not because your words say otherwise your actions say otherwise does that make sense that's very deep actually because it you're like people are looking for victory to be excuse me the end results like once I hit this then I have victory but you can have victory over walking through it yeah like over the anxious thoughts over what anything Anything. Like you were just saying, that was really good. Yeah. It's like you can have peace even through the storm.

She sounds like a muck bang. Yeah. That's good. That's good. That's good. That's good. Go ahead. I said, it's like you can even have peace during the storm.

Like you don't have to wait until after the storm to experience peace. Right. And you shouldn't. Right. You should never. Victory is that. Right. Never allowing it to phase you.

Yeah. Whatever you're walking through, it doesn't phase you. Right. No, that's very good. Which I think most Christians are like the world. Whatever they see or whatever they're dealing with, it moves them. And really the only way for, not the only way, but one of the ways that that doesn't happen for you is fasting.

Fasting is a huge key to overcoming your carnal nature. And we'll talk about that, but it's a great way to just overcome. Yes. It teaches you to die to your flesh. Yeah, practical way to do it. And my thing, too, is I would say to this, too, like, here's a question that I would ask most people, which is we say Jesus has won the victory, right? Jesus has overcome.

But that's not how we live. And everybody always says that when you get saved or they believe that when they get saved, not going to struggle anymore, they're not going to have any opposition to anything, there's not going to be any conflict in their lives. It doesn't say that in the Bible at all, but they actually believe once they get saved, all of those things stop. It actually says opposite. You'll face many trials in this lifetime, is what it says. But do not fear for I've overcome them all. Or do not worry for I've overcome them all. So it's actually opposite of what a lot of, and And I think a lot of people, it bothers them when they do face opposition or they do face a struggle.

Because then they're like, wait a minute, where's God? Why am I having to go through this? What's up with the valley? You don't have to go through a valley. You can be on the mountaintop even in the midst of walking through a valley. It's all in what you decide. but so many people wonder where God is. God has never left you.

He'll never leave you nor forsake you. So even in the midst of a trial or tribulation, you can walk in victory. But so many people just don't do it and I don't get it. It's very frustrating to me. And it's the perspective of it. It is that like when something happens and you're like, wait, I thought now that I'm a Christian, this isn't supposed to happen.

And then you're like, why is this happening to me? But instead, if you just pause and you ask God, like, what are you trying to teach me in this? Because then you're taking it off of you because it's that selfish, like, well, this is like so, it's like, you know, painful and I don't want to go through this. But if you're like, God, what are you trying to show me in this? Because it must be for my good. Somehow, some way you're working this out for my good. So what are you showing me? Yeah, because Satan's going to come against you.

100%. Yeah. But what are you going to do with that? Exactly. Correct. When you understand that there is a real enemy out there that literally hates you. Hates. And not only hates you.

Yeah. but hates your mama. Yep. Yeah. Your dad. Your kids. John 10. Your family.

Yes. And he roams around like a roaring lion seeking who he will devour. Like, understand that that's an element. Right. But also understand what you have inside of you, the power that lives inside of you. And knowing your authority. And you literally have the sort of the spirit ready and available at all times. Correct.

But it requires. It requires you picking up your Bible. It requires you to abide. It requires you to take ownership of your faith, and not many people will want to do that. They won't. I have the scripture, and I think it's 2 Corinthians, but it says that you overcome through Christ,

not you overcome through your flesh. Right. So you have to overcome through Christ. That means that overcoming is done, is done, like you're going to have to fight spiritual warfare. you're going to have to like what does the Bible tell us to be the resistance Satan John 10 10 Satan comes to kill steal and destroy but I've come to give you life and life more abundantly it's like what is what word do you have stored up inside of you to

understand where things are coming from so that you can fight the battle because it is spiritual warfare right and as what you believe the Bible because a lot of people like you hope or saying, well, now that I'm a Christian, everything's going to be sunshine and rainbows. And so if that's your truth, when sunshine and rainbows doesn't exist, you're going to be really frustrated because that's the truth that you've decided. But it's not a Bible worse. Right. Which for me, that's where I think that frustrates me the most is because people want to cast all their cares on you instead of him. And then they're hoping that the person is in answer versus the Lord is the answer.

And then they're perplexed and they're defeated. Right. It's not that I mind when people come to me and give me their woes and their concerns and their problems. I don't mind at all. I don't. But I'm like you're like living beneath what God has for you. Big time.

I'm like, why not rise up? Break that Bible open. Right. Which is not, I know that people don't think it's fun, but you will pull from it every single day, the strength that is needed. You just won't live in the mulligrubs and be down and depressed and sad. Right. And if you get irritated about something, you'll get over it very quickly. You'll rebound.

Yep. Right. And when you encounter trouble, you're not defeated because you know John 16, 33, 3,000. I have told you that these, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world. Yeah. So when trouble has come in, if I have this word stored in my heart, I'm like, oh, I got this,

because he's already overcomes it. So if he's overcome it, then I have, and then I have the victory. As if he didn't know it was coming. I don't know. It says in 1st Corinthians 1557, it says, but thanks be to God. He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So if you think that you're the one or the person that you're talking to that's hoping you overcome it, it only comes through him. And my thing is, it's already there.

It's like what you just said. It is already there. You have to possess it. You have to be resolute in it. And you have to know that it comes through Christ. It's like when the Israelites went to go. and possess the land, the promised land. What did they have to do?

They had to fight the giants. Yeah. But they had to possess the land in order to, but they have to fight. So it's the same exact thing. Like when they did it, God had already prepared it. Like he already prepared, they would win. Right.

Yeah. It's no different. It says in, sorry, I have to scroll because I went to NLT, Deuteron 813, it says, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail. And then it says, the next part is, if you listen to the laws of the Lord, your God, which I tell you today, and be careful to obey them, you will only be above and not below. So there is like, there are these, like, very strong stances about, like, where we will stand. But there's a, however, you need to listen to the laws of the Lord and you have to be careful to obey them. And so you have to know them. Like,

what are the laws of the Lord? And are you obeying them? And if, If you are, then you are. You're already operating a place of victory. It's already promised to you. So you have to think that way. So even if it doesn't look like it, like if you are walking in faith, if you are doing the things and you're fearful or afraid, but you still do it anyways and you have courage, like that's victory.

That's better than you were before. Which is so funny because the next thing I was going to say is we say we say we want the victory. But we feed the very thing. thing that defeats us. Yeah. We feed the very thing, and I made a list. Let's hear it. And I would be remiss if this wasn't true for pretty much everybody, including myself,

because there are times where I'm like, I do feel defeated. Not that often, but there are times that I do. Yeah. And, like, where do we take it? Like, instead, do we feed into it or do we take it and we, we, you? beat it. Like we beat it to submission. Okay, so a lot of times people feed fear and they feed the fear constantly. And how do they feed their fear? They threw it through, they feed it through media. They talk about it and they talk about it out loud over and over and over again, all the while

saying that I know God's going to come through for me. Life and death is howled in the power of the tongue and you're speaking that fear over and over and over again. Like, do you really believe it? Do you really believe that that's the case? Or do you really believe what you're saying? Like, whatever you're verbalizing is probably truthfully what you really believe is the truth, not versus what the word says. But a lot of times we just speak our fears out loud over and over again. replaying, this is what I think a lot of people that battle OCD, anxiety, panic attacks. What they do is they replay something over and over and over again in their mind that causes them to be afraid or conversations with people that they're ticked off with.

Yeah. And so they're constantly having a conversation in their head. Like if I see this person and they say this to me, then I'm going to say this to them and we're going to have this out. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah, I do. And some people do it because they're afraid of confrontation. So they're preparing for the confrontation all the while being afraid and then it rises up that anxiousness. Do you know what I'm saying? Because there's so many people that are afraid to confront or stand up for themselves or whatever the case may be. So they do this. That's not healthy to have a conversation over and over and over again in your head.

Preparing for something that probably will never happen. Right. And it goes. is against what God says to do. He says to think on what is lovely. Literally have it as my lock screen. Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, think on those things. Right. Which is the complete opposite of what you just said. Oh, well, and in Isaiah, I think it's 563. It says a man will be in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee because he trusteth in thee. Well, that's it. It's, yeah, where's your trust? If you're overplaying all these thoughts, you're the source. Because you're coming up with all the thoughts.

So you have to be ready to say what needs to be said instead of just trusting God. And if the conversation comes, I mean, there's so many times where I'm like, there might be a conversation that comes. And if God doesn't tell me what to say, then I guess we'll just have to sit and wait. But I don't trust in my own understanding

because it sucks. And a lot of times it goes different than what you even think it's going to go. Most of the time it does. Yeah. So, I mean, it doesn't even play. out the way you have it played out in your head. And a lot of times, like, you prepare something to say something to somebody, but if you give them two seconds to, like, answer a question, you're like, oh, I see where you're coming

from. But instead of your, you're not on the defense, like, constantly, like, you're already ready to defend a point that, like, you've made up in your own mind because you've played it over so many times. Like, let them say. Like, give them a chance. Literally. And it's not real.

And it's not even real. The whole thing was just made up. Because you saw things. You saw patterns and you made it made sense in your head. And that felt safe. and then it ends up not even being what it is at all not even close yeah and you could have just been living your best life all the while on something that's not even going to happen right it's it's a waste of time it is waste of time listening to people speak fear stay away from that

like stay away from people who either are like minded like you if they're a fearful person and you're fearful person, stay away from them. Yeah. They are not helping you. Iron sharpens iron. Be with people who make you better, not who take you down with them. It's dangerous. Watching shows

that create fear. I was going to say that next. It's not always just the people. It's like what you're putting in front of you all the time. Yes. Yeah. Like if you're afraid to go out at night, don't watch. True crime. Yes. Yeah. Please. Say way. I don't watch true crime.

It makes every time, I'm not interested. Yeah, whenever like it pops up, I like start like feeling like. It rises up. You're like looking behind your back. Like, get at it. Yeah. Things start rising up in you. Give me hallmark.

Oh, my gosh. Thinking on things that are lovely and pure. Oh, my gosh. There's just so many, like for me, I think there's so many options out there besides Hallmark that are good. Yeah. Do you know what I'm saying? Hallmark is really, in a lot of ways it's good, but in some ways, I think it's not good.

If you suffer from not having a good marriage, don't watch Hallmark. Right. Right. Like comparison. Don't watch Hallmark. Right. Because if you think Hallmark is real, you're crazy. No.

And thank God it's not. In my opinion. My happy opinion. Thank God it's not. I hate Hallmark. Because I think it's cheesy and just not realistic. at all. Like, it makes you be a needy, high-maintenance individual, I believe, always wanting what somebody else's hat has. And I don't think the hallmark relationships are actually healthy in some

ways. I think it's too much about pleasing the other person, which we should, but to a unhealthy level, I think, to a certain extent. Absolutely is not. It's not. It's not. And, Who falls in love in 48 hours? Oh, my word. Talia. Oh, my gosh. They kind of speed it up. They only have like an hour and a half hope.

Literally. And they have to have like a conflict in between. Right. It's going to be some drama. It's ridiculous. It's just ridiculous. Yeah, it's true. That's true.

And the other thing is, is I would say my last one that's a pet peeve of mine is people meditate on the problem versus meditate on the word. Yeah. That's a big one. That's funny. I asked in the chat, how do you guys stay in a victorious mindset? And that's what Amory said, meditate on the word. You have to meditate on the word.

And most people, as we know, statistics show, most people don't even open their Bible. Right. That's true. Like weekly, let alone yearly. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you should examine how much of the word you're taking in. Like, you should be, I'm not necessarily.

a read the Bible in a year kind of person because I think that what happens with that is there is no meditation. There's an agenda. It's like I have to get this much in today instead of slowly dissecting it and studying it. It's like reading it. Reading it, yeah, are you going to get, it's better than not reading it. I will say that. 100%. But it's not great because there's no real.

there have been times where I'm in one chapter for a couple weeks. Yeah. If your goal is to get through the Bible in a year, are you really able to study to show yourself approved, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, which is the second Timothy? Like, are you doing that?

I think you can do both. Because I did a Bible and read the Bible in a year last year. And it was from January to January. I think it was January to February. And I would do my daily reading. and then I would have my time where I like studied. Okay, but Vanessa, how many people actually do that? I know.

But they're not. Most people don't. Right. Right. And here's the thing. I would say this. And this isn't a bust on you by no means. Yeah. But first of all, you lead a Bible study.

Yeah. Second of all, you work your house and you're a housewife. So you don't work. True. And then a lot of people. I have the time. you have the time and you have a purpose yeah true where is a lot of people go to work they get up early they go to work the gym is more important than their bible time if they even go to the gym

and then they come home some of them are single moms whatever it'd be far better for them to read only one chapter spend 30 minutes to 45 minutes dissecting that one chapter than making sure they read the word in a day I mean read the word in a year And that's where I think it's dangerous because most people aren't like you who are going to understand that, yes, it's great to get through the Bible in a year. But you understand that that's not fulfilling. Exactly. It's not your daily bread. And there are a lot of people who do have the time that are retired and they're still not doing what you did.

They're still not doing it. So I could go on and on about that. But entertaining temptations. So here's my what's defeating us examples. Entertaining temptation, isolating ourselves. Isolation is terrible. People do not understand how bad isolation is. It feels comfortable for many reasons, but it's the devil's playground.

So do not. isolation and it's clear in the word we're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together that we're to fellowship and when we're left to our own devices it's never good it's nothing good comes from that you become very self-consumed as well there's a lot of bad things that come from isolation uh you implode that's not good and then you don't understand why you don't have uh patience for other people. It's because your life revolves around you. You've isolated yourself. Does that make sense, ladies? Absolutely. That's easy to be self-focused when all you're focused on is yourself. Yeah. And you can justify everything because you have conversations with yourself.

All of a sudden it's like, oh, is that really that bad? You're not talking to anybody about it. There's no accountability. Right. Exactly. And then if you're a person that has a mind that never stops, and you have OCD and you're anxious, let me just tell you. That's very dangerous. I agree. So isolation is terrible for people like that. Refusing accountability and consistent prayer life, never reading the word, an emotional decision making.

That one is huge. You will not live in victory when you make decisions based on a motion. Yep. And then you wonder why. How did I get here? It's one bad decision after another. Based on one experience after the other that you never felt that you could be victorious in.

For example, if you are a single person and you want to be married or you want to have a spouse. And because you're lonely, any dog will do, guess what's going to happen? miserable and you wonder how did I get here well you were lonely and the first person that paid attention to you or the second person that paid attention to you you didn't understand the quality of yourself and you were like well this person likes me or I you know this person wants to have a future with me I don't know if this is going to ever come around for me again so you know what I'd rather have this and have nothing no no no after you marry that, you'll regret that decision and you'll feel otherwise.

That's just the truth. But a lot of people make a lot of bad decisions based on emotional feelings. And then there's such regret. And then they wonder, why am I defeated? I feel like I'm not walking in victory. Right. I mean, self-awareness. Self-awareness.

I just broke stuff. Do you know what I'm saying? I do. Yeah, I do. For sure. Sorry. This is super frustrating for me sometimes. I mean.

But I think Hope you're so confident in your identity in Christ. I don't know if it's even my identity in Christ. Sometimes I'm just confident about me. I'm not kidding you. No, that's true. You are. You definitely are. You definitely are.

But also, like you know, like you know what God has told you. Like there's just that confidence. And so people lack that identity. in Christ, and so their identity is in a situation. So if a situation starts to unfold in a way that they're not expecting it to, it looks unstable. And even if there's like a refinement period, people don't like that. But that's usually what leads to victory because there's probably something inside of you that's not supposed to be there. And it needs to be pruned.

You know what? That is so true. And you know what? I think if people, when they're walking through something, could just look at it as as it's a moment in time. And as much as you might not like it, and I feel the same way, there are times and there have been recent times.

It's not like I'm speaking from a place of, oh, I've been there. No, it's recently I've been there where I'm like, I'm like, I don't like this. I don't like where I'm at right now. Like I don't feel like acting like I'm winning when I feel like I'm losing. Yeah. But I am winning.

Right. So no matter like what it looks like and as much as hard as this is for me, I'm going to get to the other side of it and something good is going to be on the other side. It has to. There's no word. Right. The word tells you it is. Romans 828. Exactly.

is literally written out. He works all things for our good. All. All things for our good, for those who love him. And so if it's not good yet, he's not done. That's what I always say. If it's not good yet, then we just have to wait. And again, like, God, what are you teaching me in this?

Because you're not going to waste a trial. You're not going to waste a refinement period. And we talked about this at Abide, where when Jesus went through. And the number one thing was identity. identity and so his identity was attacked before he went into the wilderness or no it was proven he was he was the son of god god spoke identity over him before this is my beloved son this is my beloved son yeah and then he went into the wilderness and there was a refinement and the first thing that the enemy did was attack his identity who do you think you are if you're the son of god then do this and then after that he launched into ministry yeah so it's like if you know that some people get stuck in the refinement period that's where it is because you're not you're not operating in a place of victory and Jesus used the word.

He did. Against the enemy. Yeah. But if you're not storing God's word in your heart, then you're literally stuck. Because Jesus could have been like, well, I am. Like you could have got all offended with the devil and made an excuse and try to justify his position. Yeah.

But he didn't have to. He didn't have to. Because he's confident in his identity. Like there was, why am I going to tell a devil who I am? I'm like, that sounds so silly. Like Jesus is going to have a conversation with the devil and explain himself. and get an honest answer or reply. Are you kidding me?

Right. Why are we having conversations with the devil? Or with people who are just like us who are not maybe actually operating and conducting business for the devil, but they speak his language. The same language, yep. Because they aren't filled with the word. So like, why are you listening to it? And here's the thing. I mean, and I do think about this.

When I go through really tough times, I'm like, okay, this is a testing process. And if I don't pass this, I'm repeating this. I don't want to repeat this. This is not fun. And this, there's like, I got to get to the other side. And I don't think a lot of people realize that until they pass it, they're not moving on. Right. Pass the test.

Literally. It's hard. Uh-huh. I brought up Abraham and Isaac yesterday at Abide. God told Abraham he's giving him a son. And then in the same breath, he's asking him to sacrifice his son. And Abraham obeyed immediately. It says the very next day, he told his servants,

I'm going to go up with my son to worship. And he was prepared because he knew if God is calling me up there, like he's either going to resurrect my child or do something, but I'm going to trust him in this. Well, it says that when Isaac asked, when I, you know what I love about that story is, okay, first of all, it all took place on the same Mount, on Mount Moriah. Yeah. On the same Mount, Mount Moriah is where Jesus was crucified. Isaac carried the very wood that he would be sacrificed on.

Jesus carried the very cross of wood that he was sacrificed on. Is that powerful or what? That's good. It's powerful. It's so powerful. For people to not understand that God is in the details. Yeah, I know. He was then.

Like, he cares. He is now. If he cares about those details, how much more does he care about your details? Like, it's crazy. Like, for you to even doubt who you are in him and how much he cares. cares. Like, if you, that's why just reading the Bible in a year is not, I mean, it's great and all. Don't please, don't get me wrong. But you are not going to get the things that you need to get by reading it. You have to dissect it. You have to. And it feels like an arkey way to do.

Like, like, you go to church on Sunday and you get the message that was already prepared for you and not prayed over and not spirit led versus like if you sit down or you come to a church that is spirit led, they're receiving from the Holy Spirit. Same as reading the Bible. Like, if you sit down you just already picked what you're going to read for the day. What if God had something else for you? But are you even praying, are you even asking God? Yeah. So, yeah, I actually really totally agree with that.

I think. But you can, and you can sit down and be like, Lord, can I do my daily prayer or my day of the Bible? And if he says, yes, do it. And that will give you an opportunity to hear his voice because most people don't even hear his voice. Yeah. So true. They're not even asking him. You know?

Never do. No. And God might be like, read the whole Bible in a year. Great. Do it. But like ask him. Like, be in communion with him. Or he might just say, you're going to stay in Genesis this whole entire year.

And you're going to read it over and over and over and over again. And you're going to get so much from it. Until you can basically say it. Memorize it, yeah, literally. Speak to scriptures. Right. But that is so true. But what I was going to say is when Isaac asked his dad, when Isaac said to Abraham,

where's the sacrifice? Abraham literally said when we get there, we'll have. of it. I'm paraphrasing. He didn't say you are the sacrifice. I truly believe because of that. He either believed that the Lord would resurrect him, which he said. He said the Lord will bring him back. Or he believed the Lord would provide. Because he said to, that's exactly what he did say to Isaac. The Lord will provide. And he told his servants before he went up, he said, we will be back. Him and his son will be back. So he was confident. And then we will come back to you. Yeah, he was confident that they will both come back.

Yeah, and God was who he said he was. Because God told him that everything would come through that child. Yeah. And he said lamb. Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. And the two of them went on together. Which is, if you think about that, which also parallels Jesus. What do we call Jesus?

The Lamb of God. Foreshadowing. So good. It's so beautiful. It is. And he did provide a beautiful lamb. Jesus, like, I don't know. It just blows my mind.

It's so beautiful. Like, God is so beautiful. If you, you would never doubt anything. Right. And he's the same God. He doesn't change, right? Yeah, and victory is yours. And he will overcome everything.

But I will say victory just doesn't happen by accident. It really doesn't. Galatians 524 says those, Because if you do the opposite of what we just said, you do get victory. It doesn't happen by accident. It's strategic. It's very strategic, which we'll talk about. But Galatians 524 says, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.

So you have to be strategic. You have to nail your passion. your desires, your sinful nature. And a lot of people want the victory keeping their passion, their desires, and their sinful nature. Oh my gosh. It doesn't happen that way. You're so right. I was watching a video on TikTok, and it's Theo Vaughn.

Do you know who Theo Vaughn is? He's a podcaster. Yes, he's kind of like got long hair in the front. Yes. And he was talking about healing, but you can apply this to victory as one. And he was saying how he was reading in John chapter 5 where Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda. And Jesus tells them, asks the man, do you want to be well? And Theo was talking about how, you know, he applied that to himself.

Like, do I even want to be healed? Because if I do get healed, I have a different story. And he's like, I don't know if I want a different story. And he's like, I need God to come to that part of me. Yeah. Well, that's so true because there's lots of people who don't want to be healed because they get the sympathy. Yeah. Which is an evil desire.

Right. But they get attention through that sickness, illness, or disease. And if they don't have that, then what's their identity? Right. Some people will do it for money. I've heard stories where people literally that are in wheelchairs are like, no, no, no, don't heal me. Are you crazy because of the disability check they get? And they have grown accustomed to that wheelchair and that lifestyle and they're fine with it.

I think they don't know any better. They don't even realize there's no victory in that. Right. It's going to require a brand new identity. humanity. You can't, you can't bring the old baggage with you into victory, into healing, like that, all that has to stay. Yep, surrender. And I don't think like, I don't think people realize, like, because again, it goes back to truth telling about oneself. I don't think people realize that they have grown accustomed to defeat. Like, it's just become a lifestyle for them.

So they're like, it's just one more loss. I don't like to lose. I, in fact, hate to lose. So accepting defeat is not in my vocabulary. I'm a child of the living God. Why would I ever want to lose? Right. God's not a loser.

You know that. And some people have had a really hard life. and it's hard because like we know people here at the church that have had really hard life and they've just decided that's not their story. I'm not going to keep doing this because I had the first half of my life was hard. I'm not going to keep repeating the cycle. But there are so many people that they've had a really hard life and like where has God been? Where is God in my life?

Where is he? Like he wasn't in my childhood when bad things were happening. He wasn't in my teenage years when my parents left. Like it's all these stories. So they've built their truth based off of what. what they've experienced. So when bad things happen, it's like, yeah, that's what happens to me.

Those are the cards that I was dealt. Yeah, but I don't understand that. And I'm going to, I'm going to, and it might be because previously I did grow up in a Christian home. But even then, like, I didn't realize what I realize now. There's revelation. God gives you revelation, the more you invest in your walk with him.

So that makes no sense to me. And to me, I understand what you're saying. But that doesn't even validate, in my opinion, that theology. And here's the reason why. Because I grew up in a Christian home, and I walked away when I was like 18, 19 years of age. My understanding, biblically speaking, and I was what would be considered as stellar Christian, but it was more religious than it was personal. Because I really didn't know the word.

I really didn't ever spend time in the word. I don't remember. I mean, I could tell you that I knew who King David was. But I didn't know that David, the same David that killed Goliath was the same David that was King David. Right. I mean, 18. I didn't know that. Maybe when I was younger, I was taught that.

But I didn't. So, but then when I walked away from the Lord and I got my life right with God, if you asked me, like, all those things that happened to me when I walked away from the Lord and I got my life right with God, if you asked me, like, all those things that happened to me when I walked away from. from God, where was God in all of it? That would make no sense to me because as a person that now had a relationship with him, there's a contrast and you understand the same God that I'm in relationship with now did not exist then. He was obsolete. And I would say to the people that said, like, where was God when these things happened to me when I was little? Where you saved?

was your family saved? Like, where would he be? He's not there because he wasn't ever invited. Like, to me, I sit there and go, this is common sense. Your family weren't Christians. You didn't go and do anything that would be in any way, shape, or form consistent with a Christian or Christian lifestyle. Why would he be a part of that? And you would know that if you opened your Bible up and saw that he doesn't coexist with sin.

Right. And they've already made that decision. They're not going to open up their Bible because they already hurt from the things that they believe God to be before. And people... But are these Christians? Are you telling me that these... Because I thought you were saying, these are Christians that wonder about... They think they are because they went to church.

So they're hearing this rhetoric that if you go to church, you're a Christian. So one time, six times in your life, like you've gone to church. And then the church hurt you or God didn't show up for you. or, and so do they consider themselves Christians? Probably. They're spiritual. They've, they believe in God. But, like, that's the delusion that you've, you've spoke on a few times is that you have to be honest with yourself. And nobody's questioning these people. They're just living in this mundane, everyday life, not in victory. But they've made up a scenario on their head that this is, it's not their fault. Like, God didn't show up for them. So this is more of people who are very, like, associated related churches, arc churches that just do the mantras and who God is, but don't tell them how to get that relationship with God to have a deeper one. Is that what you're saying to me?

Yeah, pretty much. Like all the other religions out there that really don't teach you the word of God. That makes complete sense to me. Yeah. But at the end of the day, still, like, you still have a responsibility to open up your Bible and to commune with him. Correct. If you say, I don't. But they've already given up.

And so, but in this case, but it's the delusion part where they're like, well, yeah, I believe in God. But, like, I've walked away from, like, religion and stuff because of the church and this. But I believe in God. And they're just not living in victory. And it's just, it is our job to share the hope that lives within sight of us. So when you get that opportunity, you share that with them. But there's some people they just don't want to break the cycle. It's like the abusive, J.R said it.

It's like a woman who keeps returning to the abusive man because it's familiar. Yeah. They know, they have no self-worth. They have no identity. Yeah. And so they just go back to this guy because he apologized and I promise I'm going to be better because it's this vicious cycle. I'll never do it again.

Yeah. And it's familiar. And it's probably, there's probably like they don't have a way to make money. So they just go back because they're a source of provider. Right. And like I do feel for those people, but at the same time, like, nothing changes if nothing changes. Mm-hmm. So. It, it doesn't. Right. I mean, but really, they're not, they're not even saved. So all the more than likely. They believe in God. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Believing in God, though, in calling them, do they believe that they're a Christian?

Yeah. People that, like, that say this, like, yeah, I believe in God. I'm yeah I'm a I'm American I'm a Christian but they don't they because nobody's having these conversations with them they're not listening they're not going to dive into this stuff they're not going to listen to this podcast unless they accidentally I know come across it I know or they come into this church and there's so much Bible verse it's too much like they're like I don't this is way too advanced I mean I've heard that like people said that to me and I'm like it's Norma you said you've heard that too from from from Yeah, it's overwhelming because there's so many Bible verses.

Which is hilarious because we've been told that we're to elementary. What? Yeah. That's crazy. Oh, yeah. And then they went to an arch church. Not kidding. Oh, my gosh.

That's silly. Oh, man. This is too. Yeah, it's crazy to me. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For me, I will tell you this.

I can't wrap my mind around that. Because when I can't remind my, because that's lukewarm. And for me, I've always been hot or cold. Yeah, I know. And I knew that that's the way it had to be. Yeah. So that kind of mentality or I don't understand it at all. I know.

It does not comprehend for me. And it's a very victim mentality. It's very much like, because like if the church hurt you, who cares? That wasn't Jesus then. And if it hurt you, why? Is it because there was a Bible verse you didn't like? But they're not ever going to unpack that. Like that's not.

But their job hurts them and they still go and work there. Like for me, I'm like. But they don't think like that. But it's my job. I have to work. You have to go to heaven though, too. Like, I mean. But they are.

They love God and they believe in him. I know this is one of those things that I'm going to rage bait you all the way to the end for the next 10 minutes. I won't. But yeah, this one, you're going to have to not, you just won't be able reconcile it because it's not your thought pattern. And Vanessa and I say this all the time, that everybody thinks like us. No one thinks like us. True. Nobody. It's just, I mean, if it's not working. Right. I know. I know. I know. And that's, but that's like everything. Sorry. everything, even on our own lives. Like we look at our own lives, like, why do we keep getting frustrated if we keep doing the same thing? Like, okay, at some point we have to like surrender this and just say like, this isn't working. All right, Lord, show me something new. Well, yeah, and I'm going to just say because which it lands right, I mean, I mean, it lands perfectly. Okay. Perfect.

But if you, you know, if you want to walk in victory, it's going to cost you something. Absolutely. I mean, it costs you something to, I mean, it's free, obviously, salvation's free, but it costs you something. If you're, if you say, Lord, you're going to be the Lord of my life. Guess what that costs you? You, you aren't your Lord anymore. He is. Victory cost you something.

And I made a list because I'm like, and people aren't going to like this list. But it is true. I mean, and I think it's a good list because I came up with it. But let's hear it. You're going to have to maintain your mind. You're going to have to control your thoughts. True. In order to be victorious, you control your thoughts.

That's where it starts. You dictate what you think. You take thoughts captive. Most people don't do this. Yeah. Nobody. It's as if we have to renew our minds every day. Every day.

Every day. And sometimes, a hundred times throughout the day. Yeah. Like there are times that I have to literally say to myself, I mean, I'm lying to myself. Or like, I have to like just be like, stop. Stop.

Yeah. I walk down the street sometimes. I'm like, people will probably think I'm crazy. I've done that. Yeah. But it's a war. No. That'll field of the mind, right?

Yes. I know. Like, and you had to vocally, you had to speak to, I mean, it is spiritual warfare. But, you know, I mean, nothing worth anything in life doesn't cost you something. And victory is, if you want to walk in victory, it's going to cost you you. You have to be obedient. Your obedience will create victory for you.

Like, instead of doing something that you want to do, the heart is desperately wicked. Instead of wanting to do what you want to do, you're obedient. and you don't do, even if it's not sin, but it's compromise. Or it says not everything is beneficial, okay? Even though it's not sin, you don't do what's not beneficial. You do what will create a victory moment one right after another for you. It's being decisive. It's being strategic in your lifestyle to create one victory after another.

They don't have to be hard. It's like I was saying, when you're in the valley, you can actually feel like you're on the mountain top. You don't have to feel like you're in the valley. It will, you have to walk in peace. It's like Jesus sleeping on the boat. Thank you. That is, like, that is a perfect example of it.

Yes. Jesus being asleep on the boat. Being disciplined. And a lot of people are not disciplined. in their life at all. Disciplined in your prayer life, disciplined in your time with the word, disciplined with the things that you say,

disciplined in your attitude. True. Like, keeping things biblical. Right. Doing what the word of God says. It's free. Victory is free. But you will cost you you.

Right. And the things that you want to do. And it is daily. It is not, you know, once a year, once a month, it is daily. And it's minute by minute. Sometimes I literally am like looking at the clock and how much longer is it until I go to bed. And I keep fighting the good fight of faith. Right. And guess what happens to me? I wake up in the middle of the night and I'm fighting

the good fight of faith and praying through it. Yeah. Because Satan loves to come to you in the night. Because he's not taking a day off. No, he is not. So we shouldn't either. And 1st Timothy 612 says, Fight the good fight of faith. How much fight do you have in you? If you're supposed,

even though it says that Christ has given us the victory, he's won it, we're supposed to still fight. Even though he's won. he's won it we have to fight does that make sense absolutely yes so you don't get to just sit back relax and kick your feet up you have to play a part in in in the win he's already done it's like healing healing is already yours right he's already purchased it but you got to do something to manifest that healing which is faith without works is dead yeah and you know and

Yeah. What's the other one? Which one? The other one is that if you want to be, if you want to have, if you want to be healed, it is you have to know the word of God. Yeah. Otherwise, forget about it. And most people don't know the word so they don't have healing. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

You know, you don't receive because you don't know. And then you'll sit there and go, I'm supposed to be healed. Why hasn't God healed me? Will you understand? And lots of people say that. Why hasn't God healed me? He already did. It's your, now you have something to do.

You have a part to play. And victory is no different. Yeah. I'm reading, I've almost done with it, the believer's authority. Which one? Kenneth Hagan. Oh, yeah, that one's a good one.

Because like Andrew Womack has one. There's lots of people who have that. And when we understand that Christ is seated at the right hand, of the father, that that means that we literally have, like, we have the authority to, to make things happen. A lot of times we're waiting for God to move and waiting for Jesus to do it. He's given us all authority to speak to the mountain and it must be moved. Yes. And we're sitting there waiting, God to do it. Right. And we're waiting on God to do it. And he's like, I've given you all things, all authority for you to speak to this thing and you won't, you won't do it.

Exactly, which is, yeah. So it's the same thing. Yeah. It's just the same thing. And your words matter. It's just like with healing. If you talk death or you talk sickness or you talk a doubt about the healing, guess what? Same thing with victory.

If you're finding, if you're walking through a. financial situation. If you're walking through a marital situation, you're walking through something with your kids and you're wanting to get to the other side with victory, guess what? What do you say? Yeah. What are you saying? Where are you coming from? A place of defeat when you speak or a place of victory. Yeah. It's, I just read something. I read something that it says you're not fighting for victory. You are fighting from victory. Correct. And that's a situation. And that's a same thing with healing. Right.

Yeah. You're not fighting for healing. You're fighting from a place of being healed. You just don't know it. You just know. What is that? It, if Norma said, is that Kenneth Hagan? And it is very similar to what Kenneth Hagan does say.

Yes. Is that in a song? That's in a song that I've listened to. What I just said is in a song? Yeah. Oh, really? Yeah. I didn't know that.

We're not fighting more victory. It's so true, though. It changes everything. It's so true. Who does it? Andrew Wilmock says it. Same Holy Spirit and everybody. Who says the same thing.

Right. I like because it's true. It is so true. And if you understand that, I'm not even done. Let me see how much more I have. We'll finish on Friday. I'll add. But, like, for me,

a lot of times like I don't quit and I hate to lose and a lot of times it's because they're not an option for me yeah don't let it be an option for you yeah because man oh man winning is great yeah winning is great walking in victory draws attention to yourself people want what you have when they see even though like I love it when I watch somebody who makes something look really easy that is extremely difficult you know what I'm doing you you sit there and go man I can do that yeah even though it's super difficult to do that well that's really what we should be doing with our walks with God. Because Satan is putting out all the stops to make it so that you're not successful.

And every single time when people see you walk through a tough situation and it doesn't look tough, they're like, well, I can do that. And you can. You just got to know your word and you got to know who you are. And then you got to walk in it. And man, are you powerful when that happens because people want what you have, which is him. So we will see you on Friday. Thank you for joining us.

And girls, do you have anything to add? I'll wait. I'll wait. See you Friday. Bye.