At The Cross
Video Courtesy of The Kingdom Choir
Up on the cross is where Jesus overcame. I have a victorious life, but I will remain at the foot of the cross.
Sometimes I find myself getting so caught up in me and the things I experience day to day. I think back over my career the past thirty years and I feel as if I’ve been dealt a bad hand. I did all the things I was taught to do to be able to have a prosperous career. After high school, I attended a major university and received a bachelor’s degree. After securing a good job and working for several years, I decided to further my education and get an MBA so I could move up in the corporate world. It wasn’t enough to boost my career, so I joined associations in my field and even held offices. It still wasn’t enough. I had gone as far as I could and started seeking employment with other companies.
I got another job, and I was starting to rise up the ladder. But when a new management group came on board, I was stuck again. Less qualified people were hired on my level, even though I had more experience. It became clear to me that it’s not about what you know, but who you know.
I began to feel that life is so unfair. I did all the things I had been taught to do, but I was never able to move into management positions. I complained to God, asking, “Why am I being treated so unfairly? I’ve done the right things, but I’m not prospering like others. What am I doing wrong? Am I being punished for something I did earlier in my life? I go to church every Sunday. I teach Sunday School. I attend Bible study. I sing on the choir. I am the VBS director. I don’t just know your name, but I personally have a relationship with you.”
God dropped in my spirit: Because of who you are and whose you are, you will experience trials and tribulations. You may never have more than what you have. As a matter of fact, you may have even less than what you have now. I need you to be a vessel for me. I need you to serve. You say you want to do My Will, experiencing these types of things and not getting where you think you should be is exactly where I want you to be.
I am understanding why I need to remain at the foot of the cross. I’ve done what I perceive to be the right things, but that doesn’t mean I will get what I have planned for my life. I need to be able to accept the disappointments in life and continue to have joy and peace. I need to know that the things I want are not necessarily the things God wants for me or needs for me to be. When His will is placed in my life, I need to know it may not look like what I expected.
Every day of my life is a victorious life. I need to stop complaining, stop whining. Each day that I am alive is a new opportunity for me be an example to others on how to take disappointment and handle it as an assignment from God.
As I feed on God’s word, my actions should be as the Bible states “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, ESV). I should be challenging myself to live a victorious life and to stay away from sin, such as complaining and whining about what I wasn’t able to accomplish but concentrate on and be thankful for my many blessings from God.
I will stay at the foot of the cross. I need to keep “executing God’s plan for my life. Keep advancing in my kingdom purpose. I need to stay focused on the outcome.” I will stay around the Cross and live a victorious life. Are you challenging yourself to live a victorious life? Search yourself and decide what you will leave at the foot of the cross.
Video Courtesy of The Kingdom Choir
Pray About It
Lord, each day I am alive is a victorious day for me. I need to be an example so others can see that I am at the foot of the cross. I have sins such as complaining, whining, gossiping, not always being humble and so much more that I need to leave at the foot of the cross. Thank you, God, that you correct me and instill in me the desire to do better. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Luke 14:27, NLT: “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”
TONIA WILLIAMS. Tonia lives in North Augusta, SC where she grew up. She received her BA degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia, SC and her MBA degree from Brenau College in Gainesville, GA. She is actively involved with her church, Old Macedonia Baptist Church, where she sings on the choir, is Director of Vacation Bible School, and teaches the Women’s Sunday School class