1814 Victory To Serve

What victories do you have in your life? What battles have already been won?

Now of course I know you’re still in some battles, but recognize the victories you currently stand in. Ways that were made. Breakthroughs that happened. Changes you were about to give up on, then it all changed. Impossibilities that were made possible. Miracles that unfolded.

I sometimes lose sight of all these victories because of my current battles, but this morning, God told me, “My girl, remember the victories.”

I was once the 15 year old girl who prayed her first prayer and asked God to bring new boys to my little country school, AND HE DID, so I married that new boy 6 days after I graduated high school. We’ve been married 30 years now. That’s victory.

I was once laying in a hospital bed unable to walk or talk after a stroke. God not only spared my life, but he radically healed me. I made a deal with God one day in that hospital bed. I told him if he would allow me to walk, then I would run marathons. To this day, that’s why I’ve laced up my running shoes. It’s not because I’m good at it or fast by any means. My body doesn’t look like it used to look and I don’t move like I used to move. But you know what … I’m not laying in a bed like I used to lay in a bed either!

In that hospital bed, I also told God if he would allow me to talk, I would speak on any stage he gave me. And my friends, that is why you hear my voice today. Because God gave me my voice back (literally) and I have a commitment to fulfill.

I actually did something for the first time ever this morning, I asked my husband for the numbers. I intentionally do not track numbers for the podcast. I never want to get lost in those numbers and forget I’m just speaking to YOU. You with your real life seeking a real word from God. But this morning I found out we have over 13 million plays from around the world. And here’s what that means to me – It means YOU are one of them. I’ve been trusted with YOU. That’s a victory.

God says, “My girl, remember your victories.”

We adopted our daughters from an orphanage in Mexico. After a few years of having them in our home as our daughters, our file fell into corrupt hands and we entered a battle that took not only years, but it took every penny we had to protect and keep our girls. But eventually, the victory came.

And those are just a few of the victories I’m aware of. How many more battles were fought in spiritual realms over my life, my family and my future all while I thought it was just a normal day. Countless times I’ve walked in victory from battles I never knew existed.

And that’s your story too. How many victories brought you here today? What battles have been fought and won for your life? Start with the ones you know. What did you get through? What did you survive to tell about? What did you make it out of? Remember the victories!

Our scripture today is Joshua 24: 8-15. I hope you have a Bible so you can read along and highlight a few key verses.

This is what the Lord said, “I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.” (Pause right there, in verse 8 highlight “I gave you victory” and “you took possession.” How did you get what you have? That came from God! Where did every single victory come from? GOD!)

Now, continuing in verse 11 (this one will include some hard words, just go with it.) “When you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Caaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave you victory over them. (Who gave you victory? God did that!)

Verse 12, “And I sent terror ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory. (Oh for sure, highlight that!) I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build – the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them. (How many of us are blessed by things today we didn’t build ourselves? You’re eating food you didn’t grow! Your morning coffee – did you harvest those coffee beans yourself? I think not! Look at what God has done for you!)

Now, this is true for every single one of us. We have made it through some hard times. We have won a few battles. We’re blessed with things we had no part in creating, building or growing. And who did it? Who gave you every single victory? GOD DID! God fought for you. God guided you. God equipped you. God went before you and made a way where there had been no way before. God healed you. God strengthened you. God blessed you.

The question is, what will you do now with all these victories? My sister, remember this, today’s battles do not diminish the victories already won. God has already done so much for you. Every single thing you have ever taken possession of, first God gave the victory. Once you realize that, you simply can’t live the same. It changes your perspective and it changes your priorities.

Verse 14, “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. (Oh we’re not going to gloss over that, tomorrow we’re talking about our idols!) Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

You’re serving something or someone. Make your choice today, my friend. Will you serve your selfish desires? Will you serve your bad habits? Will you serve your fears and anxiety? Or will you serve the Lord?

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SERVICE.

1 Peter 4:10-11, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. “

God has given you strength and energy to serve – now girl, what are you doing with it?

When you come to realize all the victories you’re living in, you simply can’t help but want to serve the God who has given you every one of those victories.

If you’re not serving, then you’re missing the fullness of the life Jesus came to give you.

I encourage you to grab something to write with right now and write out this question for yourself. Are you ready? Here it is: HOW WILL YOU SERVE IN 2025?

You may already be dismissing yourself from service because you don’t know what to do or where to do it. That’s a trick of the enemy that has kept you stagnant in service for entire too long. GIRL, DO SOMETHING FOR JESUS AND HIS PEOPLE! Something. Anything.

Every morning on my run on the island of Key Largo, I see the same man. For the past 4 years he’s worn the same shirt and pants. He has long dirty dreads and sometimes a smile I can see from across the road. I’ve recently made it a point to stop, look him in the eye, and talk to him. He’s mostly non-verbal, but some morning he lights up when I talk to him. Yesterday, I had a vision of sitting down on a picnic blanket by the road and sharing a meal with him. My fear has been holding me back, but the Spirit within me is getting loud. God’s Spirit says, “I’ve called you to service. Boil the eggs!”

GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO SERVICE – HOW WILL YOU SERVE THIS YEAR?

I recently heard a story of a woman who is saving and changing lives for Jesus. The way she’s doing it is mind blowingly simple. I’m telling you, YOU COULD DO THIS. Here’s what she’s doing … She bakes homemade casseroles and takes them to the strip clubs where lost girls are dancing. She gets permission from the manager to deliver the casseroles into the dancers dressing rooms. With each delivered casserole, she earns the girls’ trust and develops a relationship.

The girls are hungry and haven’t eaten a homemade casserole like that for years. They’re longing for something different in life, and they’re getting an actual taste of it. One casserole at a time, this woman has helped rescue countless girls from the life they were trapped in, and set them free.

Casseroles for Christ – that’s service! You could do that!

My friend Jill sits in a makeshift large tent downtown in her city and welcomes in the homeless on cold nights to get warmed up. That’s service. You could do that!

I’m just here giving AM Pep Talks for the Almighty. That’s my service.

How about “Sourdough for the Savior” or “Just Be There for Jesus”, or “Girl Gatherings for God”?

How will you serve in 2025?

God has given you so many victories … now you’re called to serve him. If your pride is getting in the way, just take one step toward serving God in whatever way you can and see what happens.

Give God all the credit and serve him. That’s what you’re here to do in your lifetime!

Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela
Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim
Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com