ForgottenWoman

What’s That Banner You’re Wearing?

Most of us are familiar with the idea of the sash draped across the shoulder of a beauty pageant winner, or a graduate, or award winner of some sort. The sash is a banner declaring a title to the wearer: right? Whenever the person who has earned the title desires to be recognized for that “title” they drape the sash across their body and proudly display it for all to see.

So, let’s ask ourselves today, “What title are you proudly wearing on your sash?” Yes, I believe you and I get to choose our banner – or at least how long we wear it! Those beauty pageant sashes, though coveted by many; are worn only temporarily. Recently, I’ve read about a couple of titles along with their “sashes” being given up – young women choosing to voluntarily hand them over.

That’s where my heart has been hanging out this week. Here is the bottom line. Life is full of ups and downs: we all experiences some mountaintops and valleys. And we all choose how we respond to both. If we are honest; we realize and understand that some walk through more valleys than others and some appear (at least on the surface) to have smooth sailing so to speak. The truth is that only God knows the depths of what any of His children walk through and only God has the right to determine how difficult or easy our paths are! But you and I? We may not get to choose some of our experiences but we do get to choose our sash!

Let’s get more specific. Why is my heart and mind here today? Because life… this world… sin… evil… bad people… selfishness… abuse… death… sickness… These are all things that you and I have to face and deal with. And as we face each one; we choose our mentality. We choose our response. We choose our sash/banner! Too often today the banner reads VICTIM. And to often that sash is worn loudly and proudly! Personally, I don’t want to wear that sash! I want my banner to read VICTORIOUS!

How in the world can a true victim of abuse slap on a banner each day that reads VICTORIOUS?

How in the world can a true victim of cancer slap on a banner each day that reads VICTORIOUS?

How in the world can a true victim of the evil choices of another slap on a banner each day that reads VICTORIOUS?

… I could go on and on and list the things that many of us face or have faced but I’m going to ask you to make your own list. And then listen to this!

Nothing – and I mean NOTHING that has been a part of your life is a surprise to Almighty God – and since He allowed it; He is able to use it for your good and His glory if you are His child.

He loves you – and He promises to draw near to you if you will draw near to Him!

Those two statements alone should give you a reason to pause in your list of “bad things” that have been a part of your life, put a great big smile on your face and cause you to rip that sash of victim right off of your chest and replace it with VICTORIOUS! I’m a child of the Most High King and there is nothing in this life that will defeat me. In fact: my Father causes all things to work together for my good… all things. Even abuse, neglect, betrayal, sickness, death of my loved ones, hateful people… ALL things.

What does a sash/banner reading VICTORIOUS look like in my every day life? It looks like JOY that smiles through tears of heartache. I didn’t say that there won’t be pain and tears… but not pain and tears of victim mentality: pain and tears that will not lead to despair~ It looks like PEACE that accepts all of the hard things as tools that are refining me… Peace that speaks into the moments of anxiety and reminds my heart that God is at work in me. If looks like COMPASSION that has eyes to see the hearts and needs of others instead of eyes that are blinded by my own circumstances.

So, as believers we really shouldn’t be wearing those VICTIM sashes. We need to rip them right off and replace them with a banner over our lives that reads VICTORIOUS because of Christ! Are you with me?