Thoughts that have come from various quotes taken from the book, "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim Based Society" by John H. Hovis. Click here to link directly to the audio file.
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"God acted out of who he was, not how he felt. Roles make us live a roller coaster life. One moment we feel we are on top of the world because a particular role we are living out is working our way. The next minute we feel we are sinking fast because we aren’t living up to the way we think a role should be playing out."
As quoted from the book "Victor - Breaking Free From a Victim-Based Society" by John H. Hovis Page 25.
Feelings are a tricky thing when it comes to living the life of a victor. It isn’t that feelings can’t be trusted. Feelings are an important part of what makes a human a human. It’s just when we use feelings to dictate how we act or react to situations that come our way that we get into trouble. Feelings based actions lead to a roller coaster kind of life that is a hallmark of victim thinkers.
Today’s reading takes a look at how God acts and reacts to challenges He faces.
I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt. And I acted in a way that would evoke honor… Ezekiel 20:9 (MSG)
God was tempted to destroy the entire nation of Israel because of their idolatrous ways. Had he acted on how He felt there would have been “hell to pay!” Instead, God acted out of who He was (and is). Identity is the key to acting and reacting to all that goes on in the victor’s life.
When the roles we play don’t go the way we expected, we are tempted to act out of how we feel. Anger, depression, frustration, jealousy, vindictiveness, even hatred can be the norm for those who act out of how they feel when they don’t get their way. Victors just can’t afford to live this way. Doing so kills the peace that comes with the power of knowing who we are.
The other trait we see God exhibiting from today’s reading is something called honor. God acted in a way that would bring honor to Him and honor to the nation of Israel. Victors somehow just seem to ultimately default in a way that brings honor. We always don’t make the honorable choice right off the bat but it isn’t long before we experience a course correction and get back to our honor based identity. A Child of God’s is a victor that acts in a way that ultimately brings honor to The Father.
Each and every task you put your hand to today comes with the need to act or react. Take the victor’s path today and act or react the way your Heavenly Father would. When you allow your identity as God’s Child be what guides your actions, honor will ultimately be the result. Those stuck in victim thinking might not appreciate an honor based action but know this; when honor is the result of acting out of who you are, God smiles with pride at the actions of his Child.
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