The Defeated
I could not believe it. Our team lost. Having gone undefeated through the entire softball season, the playoffs were not that much more challenging. After all, our team had generally won most of the games by the “mercy rule.”
Now in the last inning of the conference championship game, our team is ahead by several runs. I played the catcher position. I had the best vantage point of what was about to take place.
The pitcher tossed the ball and the first hitter hit the pitch and ran safe to first base. Then the next batter made contact. Before long, the bases were loaded. A run was scored. A pop up was caught. A ball was dropped by a fielder. Another out was made on a ground ball. A walk loaded the bases. Another hit.
In the last inning that season, our team had 2 outs with the bases loaded and by that time, the score was tied. Eventually the other team caught up and tied the game which we were not used to.
The final pitch tossed was smacked over an infielder, and the “go ahead” run scored. We lost the game. The undefeated team was now defeated.
No one likes to lose. “Second place is the first loser!” What about the Christian life? No one likes to come up short, and yet we come up short frequently in the Christian life. That is OK. That is why Jesus came. However, some Christians avoid admitting when they have been defeated by Satan, the flesh, or the devil. Admitting failure is OK. In fact, it is a requirement for the Christian to grow. Correction of what is wrong cannot be made until confession is expressed.
When we are defeated, our pride can cause us to not admit, confess, or seek to get things right with God. When this happens, we feel guilty, restless, and comfortless. That is what Jesus is speaking about in the famous Sermon on the Mount, when He says “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4).
There is no comfort until there is confession. There is no confession until there is contrition. Contrition is being sorry for your sin. Expressing you were wrong is the best place to start in restoring your fellowship to God or to others. Humility is the greatest quality to have, and yet it is found the least in mankind. God does not grant peace of mind and heart, or comfort, until we are sorry for our sin. Even to the point of mourning over our wrong.
Do you ever feel down right defeated? Perhaps your mind is programed to the default mode of “guilt, trouble, anger, discouragement, and what is wrong with life.” The Christian need not live a life of continual defeat.
A perpetually defeated mind is an indicator of wrong thinking. Perhaps a bad experience has not been forgiven correctly or the event/circumstances continually “pop up” in your mind.
Time can remove the distance from your defeats, but it cannot remove the perpetual pitfalls and ruts your mind sinks into.
We need more help what will power or letting time go by can give. We need the Bible to shape our thinking.
After reading the following Scriptures, pause a few moments and meditate on how these verses can change the defeats in your life and get your heart and mind back to winning thinking.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
- Psalm 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
With God’s help, you do not need to live in perpetual defeat.
EDC Christian 