From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

March 26
When the Victory Comes

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 44:4-8 | Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25 | Luke 7:11-35 | Proverbs 11:29-31

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 44

In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. (Psalm 44:8 NIV)

How do you handle victory and success? The human tendency is to allow our successes and victories to go to our heads. We boast; we revel in the praise of others. We give little thought to the one who stands behind the victory and success.

In contrast, the Psalmist knew that every victory, every success, is an opportunity to boast in the Lord. Real strength and security lie not in his own abilities but come from the Lord.

It was a lesson that God had been teaching the people of Israel from their very beginnings as a people until now: when God is the object of their trust, he brings victory.

When victory comes, it is an opportunity to boast: to boast in the Lord. From the moment of desperation where we first cry out to God all the way through to the place of victory, we do well to keep the spotlight shining on the one who is the source of our strength—the victor behind every victory: Almighty God.

It was a lesson the Apostle Paul had also learned well. He reminds the churches: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31). In times of victory, we always do well to look to the source of our strength and give all the praise to him.