Going through a battle? Are you thinking about giving up, quitting or throwing in the towel? Have you been saying to yourself, "I've had enough?" Are your feelings rising up against you?

Well, friend, I'm here to tell you today, you're not alone in the battle. There are thousands of other people going through tests, trials and tribulations just like you are right now.

We all do battle with the forces of darkness that come against us in our minds, in our daily walk with the Lord, in our families, with our children, on our jobs, etc. That's life. BUT, it doesn't mean that we just give up, lay down, roll over and die.

Life is worth living whether you "feel" like it is or not. Our feelings should not be the source of our guidance. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one who should be leading us and guiding us through every facet of our walk with Him. Feelings are here today, gone tomorrow. Feelings change minute by minute. One minute we say, "I really love you, John." The next minute we are kicking John out the front door.

Do you realize that you will never have an opportunity to win a victory, if you never have a battle? Have you ever thought of it that way? You can't have a victory without a battle. If you are in a battle right now, it's an opportune time for God to intervene in your situations. Hallelujah!

I don't know about you, but I don't like being defeated. Whenever I used to play baseball, basketball, soccer and other games, I didn't like losing. I wanted to win the battle against the opposing forces every time we played.

There's a determination on the inside of us that wants to win. But, if we've lost several battles in a row, we become discouraged and begin to have a "give up" mentality. Discouragement comes from the soul realm. It's a feeling. It's a mindset that needs to be broken off of us whenever it comes upon us. Discouragement will rob you from the blessings of God. Discouragement will cause you to "give up" right before the breakthrough comes. Discouragement will cause you to walk around with your head down, your thoughts consumed with yourself, and a sense of hopelessness in your heart. That's not God's plan for you!

The battle may be raging all around you, but the Spirit of God lives on the inside of you, if you are a born again believer. The same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead lives in YOU! He gives you power to win the victory! Power to call upon His name, in the midst of every circumstance. POWER to defeat the enemy, when He comes against you saying, "You'll never make it. You're going to lose this one!"

You will make it, friend! You will make it through this battle, if you will keep your eyes upon Jesus. Scripture says, "The battle belongs to the Lord." He's already won the battle for you, so don't get discouraged just because the heat is being turned up a little bit. It ain't over till it's over. It's not over yet.

"I wish it was over. I can't take it anymore!" You can take more than you think you can. Sometimes, we are wimps instead of warriors for the Lord.

One day several years ago, I was going through a really difficult time. I mean, I was going through a battle. I finally got to the place of total defeat and discouragement. I threw myself across my bed, face down, and began weeping and wailing like a little baby to the Lord. I was mad at God, mad at the world, mad at anything and everything that came across my path. I was miserable. I was screaming and yelling at the top of my lungs acting like a total fool in His presence. "God, I hate you! I can't believe you're allowing this to happen to me! Just kill me, God! I don't want to live, if I have to live like this! I'm tired of it all! I can't take it anymore! Take my life! I want out of here!"

What an anointed prayer I prayed that day as I laid across my bed weeping and crying out. Do you know how the Lord responded to my cry that day? He said, "Donna, I know how much you can take. I know how much pressure you can stand. You can make it through this battle, because I'm in it with you. You're not to the edge yet and I'm not going to take your life. I have a plan for your life!" Oh man! You talk about upset. I couldn't believe it! He told me I could take more! I tried to rebuke those words. I continued to act like a jerk, until finally, the lights came on in the house (my heart & mind).

God knows exactly what He's doing. He knows what to allow into our lives and what not to allow in our lives. He knows exactly how much pressure we can take. He knows exactly when to help us in the battle. He knows specifically when the victory should come. His timing is perfect. His will is perfect. If you're in the midst of a battle today and you've been crying out to God for deliverance from it, stand strong! Don't give up the fight, because the victory is on the way! The Lord will not allow the battle to go on forever, even though it may seem that way. Trust Him. He's not going to allow you to fail, unless you choose to go that way.

Battles cause us to become stronger in faith and determination. They cause us to dig deep within ourselves. We use faith and determination in battles that we normally wouldn't use, if we were tip toeing through the tulips. Battles cause us to rise up and see exactly what we are really made of.

Have you ever watched people fall apart in the midst of adverse situations? It's imperative that we build ourselves up in faith on a daily basis, so that, when the battles do come, we won't fall apart. We must build ourselves up by praying in the Holy Spirit. If you're not baptised in the Holy Spirit, you need to be. You need the power from on high that God offers to you freely. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. Pray in the Holy Spirit when you're doing dishes or when you're driving your car to the store. We need the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives, if we want to see the victory. Everything that God has for us is freely given to us. Why not accept all that He has for you?

He is a faithful God! He will never fail you! When you cry out to Him, He will hear your prayer and respond to it every time.

Walk in holiness and righteousness before Him. Repent of any and all sin that may be in your life. Choose this day to serve Him and Him only. You don't have to live a life of defeat. The Lord will bring you out. There is a light at the end of this dark tunnel that you are going through. Continue to pray and keep your eyes upon Him. He won't let you go. He loves you. He cares about you. He feels your pain and knows your situation. You can have the victory today. Don't have a defeatist mentality, but begin to think the way Jesus thinks. Begin to see things the way He sees them. When you see your situation through the eyes of Jesus, everything changes. He's going to intervene for you. Don't give up the fight! The battle is already won!

God Bless You!