Victimhood Ave.
Victimology, what an interesting word that you may have never heard of before. But it means to have an outlook that comes from real or imagined victimization, that seems to glorify the state of being a victim. Have you noticed, the more dysfunctional our country gets, the more we see our society adopting a victimhood mentality instead of living with a victorious mindset?
US News and World Report wrote in 2015, “Expert victimologists estimate that 91% of people in North America now qualify as victims, at least in their own minds. This is because hurt feelings keep spreading, and society keeps grinding us down.”
Victimhood looks for others to blame for their situation, while the victorious mindset looks for the best in all situations. God’s people have every reason to live a victorious mindset because of the perpetual hope that we live with.
Notice David’s words again, “David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, but David encouraged himself in the Lord.” 1 Samuel 30:6
What a powerful example of a man who lived with an overcomer’s mentality! What a stark contrast between those who were filled with some of the traits of victimhood (hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness) and the man of God who was filled with faith in God and favor from God. He could have hunkered down in his situation and started to blame everyone around him for his circumstances. While others had a complaining spirit within them, David had a conquering spirit in him.
I love the word “encouraged” that David used. In Hebrew, it’s a word that describes how a person would apply a plant-based oil over their body to protect it from the hot sun. David is saying that in the crucible of life, when he could have blamed family and friends for his situation, he found courage, strength, and healing by covering his mind with the protective presence of God and the power of God’s word!
For too long, maybe you’ve been letting toxic, depressing circumstances determine your mindset instead of releasing your Christ empowering mindset to defeat and change your circumstances.
Brother Job started going down Victimhood Ave., but finally realized, that was a dead end! Remember he’s the one who said, “When God has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Every person in the Bible who defeated a victim mentality practiced one huge principle – they coated their minds with courage by way of the presence of God and His word so they could trust God with the timing of their circumstances!
The key phrase with Job’s statement is, “when God has tested me.” Notice Job uses the word “gold” to describe the outcome of God’s timing perspective! Not silver or bronze! Why gold? Of all the metals, it’s the most precious and most valuable! Now get this: you are so precious and valuable to God, and He knows what He’s doing in your life. Trust the timing perspective of God!
It takes a longer time span to refine gold, it takes a courser material to refine gold, and it takes a higher heat to refine gold. Doesn’t this sound like our lives? Keep in mind that if God is our eternal Redeemer, then He’s also our eternal Refiner!
Remember, a moment ago I said God’s people have every reason to live a victorious mindset because of the perpetual hope that we live with. Well, our victorious mindset is constantly coated with these three facts: 1) God is working while we are waiting, 2) personal patience brings spiritual perfection, and 3) suffering shapes us for significance!
Oswald Chambers wrote, “We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching...We shall find that the places God brings us into are not always to teach us something, but to make us something.”
God bless you,
Pastor Dave
US News and World Report wrote in 2015, “Expert victimologists estimate that 91% of people in North America now qualify as victims, at least in their own minds. This is because hurt feelings keep spreading, and society keeps grinding us down.”
Victimhood looks for others to blame for their situation, while the victorious mindset looks for the best in all situations. God’s people have every reason to live a victorious mindset because of the perpetual hope that we live with.
Notice David’s words again, “David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, but David encouraged himself in the Lord.” 1 Samuel 30:6
What a powerful example of a man who lived with an overcomer’s mentality! What a stark contrast between those who were filled with some of the traits of victimhood (hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness) and the man of God who was filled with faith in God and favor from God. He could have hunkered down in his situation and started to blame everyone around him for his circumstances. While others had a complaining spirit within them, David had a conquering spirit in him.
I love the word “encouraged” that David used. In Hebrew, it’s a word that describes how a person would apply a plant-based oil over their body to protect it from the hot sun. David is saying that in the crucible of life, when he could have blamed family and friends for his situation, he found courage, strength, and healing by covering his mind with the protective presence of God and the power of God’s word!
For too long, maybe you’ve been letting toxic, depressing circumstances determine your mindset instead of releasing your Christ empowering mindset to defeat and change your circumstances.
Brother Job started going down Victimhood Ave., but finally realized, that was a dead end! Remember he’s the one who said, “When God has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Every person in the Bible who defeated a victim mentality practiced one huge principle – they coated their minds with courage by way of the presence of God and His word so they could trust God with the timing of their circumstances!
The key phrase with Job’s statement is, “when God has tested me.” Notice Job uses the word “gold” to describe the outcome of God’s timing perspective! Not silver or bronze! Why gold? Of all the metals, it’s the most precious and most valuable! Now get this: you are so precious and valuable to God, and He knows what He’s doing in your life. Trust the timing perspective of God!
It takes a longer time span to refine gold, it takes a courser material to refine gold, and it takes a higher heat to refine gold. Doesn’t this sound like our lives? Keep in mind that if God is our eternal Redeemer, then He’s also our eternal Refiner!
Remember, a moment ago I said God’s people have every reason to live a victorious mindset because of the perpetual hope that we live with. Well, our victorious mindset is constantly coated with these three facts: 1) God is working while we are waiting, 2) personal patience brings spiritual perfection, and 3) suffering shapes us for significance!
Oswald Chambers wrote, “We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching...We shall find that the places God brings us into are not always to teach us something, but to make us something.”
God bless you,
Pastor Dave
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