Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!
Today's word: conquer
What does the word conquer mean to you?
How is it different to conquer than it is to just win?
What is the hardest thing you've ever had to conquer?
Let me know what you think!!
'This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Meeting with my principal today about this coming school year. Need signed contract. Need to conquer the butterflies in my stomach that they want me still and will pay me to do what I do. My summers are always uneasy in this regard. I want to conquer the temptation to panic and walk in rest knowing that God is my provider, creative consultant, and smoother of my path come what may. These worry-wart tendencies - yech!
ReplyDeleteJoy!
Kathy
As soon as I saw this the song "I've Got the Victor Living in Me" came flooding back...."it is not by what I feel or see, I've got the Victor living in me."
ReplyDeleteOnly through His might can I conqueror anything...even the day to day.
To me, conquer means to overcome. It means to bring disquieting feelings under control. It doesn't necessarily mean that I have won or annihilated the enemy that plaques me but that I have it in check and I can thrive while turmoil may rage around me.
ReplyDeleteJesus said that He has overcome the world. That means in Him I, too, have overcome the world. We haven't destroyed the evil in it but we can live in joy and above the evil despite it--at least so far (a little political wandering there, and some end day thoughts).
The greatest thing in my life that I have had to conquer is depression. And it still rears it's ugly head on occasion. It took a lot of work and time to overcome it, and I need to put in some time gaining on it again.
Hope all is improving for you.
Blessings,
Janis
I am reminded of the verse, "We are more than conquerors through Christ." I have found this to be true. It is only through His strength that I can conquer whatever I am facing.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Sharon...
ReplyDeleteI could just say "ditto" that Janis hit the nail on the head for me... at least on what CONQUER means: to overcome successfully, to defeat or according now to Free dictionary "subdue by force" (no, I don't like that one); "to gain or secure control" (a bit better); "to put down by force or authority" (Christ's for us)... but I do like word derivatives and this one is great:
["from Old French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin conquērere (unattested) to obtain, from Latin conquīrere to search for, collect, from quaerere to seek"] "to gain the love, sympathy, ... "
Conquer vs. Winning... "It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell." I dare not even say where this quote is from... For me, I may win the small stuff, or day by day, have a victory...but to conquer something, means it is finished, the victory is won, all the battles have been defeated or the one that you are currently battling or struggling with... defeated and done!
Now as regards my greatest CONQUER... huh...do you have a day or so? I could copy the depression response above, mine was clinical... but I think this is a day by day touchy battle and struggle that I must conquer and daily stay alert, so it's not done, it's not over, it is one I dangerously hang on the precipice of to overcome and keep myself from dreading near. So I have not conquered it! But every day, I win, my CONQUEST is closer to being over. Than, I thought of some sin areas of my life; and although I have defeated many in Jesus Name and power, there are some of them that I still fight to conquer and stay clear of the temptation. I would like to claim that 'I have overcome', but I know it's still a personal struggle and daily I surrender to God and hold onto that we have overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Not by my power but in His power. The Holy Spirit keeps me alert and aware of my weaknesses, guiding me clear of entering into again. I can't say that I have conquered over addictions, or anything BIG and apparent... but mine are subtle victories. (they may also be considered addictions like people pleasing and approval... oooo, I constantly need to stay clear of that but can I say I have conquered it... mmmmmmmmmmm...a work in progress and this process is ongoing. Just keeping it truthful. I am vulnerable. But I am also VICTORIOUS in Jesus Christ. So glad that He won the victory and overcame the world and I can stand on this Promise of God. Me thinks I need to sing Janette's song... off to find me a YouTube of it>>>
I know that you desire to CONQUER a mighty big obstacle but hold on and keep focused on God's Word that tells us "we are more than a conqueror"(Romans 8:37) (now this song I can sing in Him). Hallelujah...another one bites the dust! Victory in Jesus... I will leave us with this last quote:
"More than Conquerors are "Transformers of lives and circumstances to glorify God even through suffering of love" resulting in converting enemy into friend (having to do with Jim Elliot's story) and threats into opportunities....
winning over the adversity of circumstances and people - transforming to convert the hearts of opposition to reception and breaking free from the stifling circumstances to greater success beyond expectation."
Lots of transforming and seeking...together we can encourage one another to overcome and be more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus... Thanks Sharon for a good "fan to flame" and participants that comment well(yeah) ...bless you for all the food for thought. EnJOY a wonderful weekend!
Love and peace,
Peggy
I'm deliberately not going to read the other comments until I fan the flame myself. Sometimes when I'm late, I admit to peeking.
ReplyDeleteTo me, to conquer is different than just to win. I think we can win and lose a thousand different battles but still be fighting. When you conquer, you have the final victory and the final word. You sort of stick the figurative flag in the thing and claim ownership of it.
Conquering is what Christ did on the cross, and in Him, we got to be conquerors too.
The hardest thing I've had to conquer? Hmmm.
I'm so pathetic that my hardest things are still just wins and losses as far as I can recall.
The word conquer can mean two different things - we can conquer our fears or they can conquer us.
ReplyDeleteKathy - Yes, yech indeed! I have been thinking about you so much this weekend. I pray that God worked in this situation, and that you will have a job come fall. You know, I really liked how you called it the "temptation to panic." I guess I never looked at it quite that way. Yes, fear is yet another temptation of the enemy - and it is to be fought against, and withstood just like any other temptation. God promises a way out. Let's seek that way together.
ReplyDeleteJanette - Sometimes the day-to-day is the tough stuff. The big stuff we get all geared up for - the daily stuff sometimes whittles us down like a leaky faucet - drip, drip, drip. However, not what I see or feel, but what I KNOW. Victory is ours through Him who conquered!
Janis - I love how you phrased this: to thrive while turmoil rages around us. Yes, so true. It's an oft-used image, Jesus in the storm - but it just holds so true. Waves will not overcome us IF we focus on the One who controls the seas. I have also battled anxiety (no big secret) and depression. They are insidious enemies - but God has not given us the spirit of timidity!
Patti - I love that verse! And you have brought out the MOST important element of conquering - where we get our strength. Because, after all, it isn't OUR strength at all. Our strength will always falter, always stumble, always tremble at daunting circumstances. But, the Holy Spirit will equip us for the battle - the battle already conquered by Jesus!
Peggy - Loved the word background stuff - you knew I would, didn't you? I like how you said that conquer means defeated and done. Yes, very true. That has often confused me as I think about what it means to be more than conquerers through Christ. Because often I don't feel like I've conquered anything. Of course, I think this verse speaks more to a STATE of TRUTH, than a STATE of FEELING. We may not feel like we've conquered anything - but there is an empty tomb that testifies to the truth of the victory - once and for all. (By the way, your comment would make a wonderful post - it was very insightful and encouraging!)
Debbie - You are certainly NOT pathetic. You know what I thought of as I read your comment? It's the enemy that tempts us to keep score - he's the one who cares about the tally marks in the Win and Loss column. God does not care at all. He looks at us and sees one game - with Jesus as the victor. We need to stick a flag in that! And I love how you said we need to CLAIM ownership of our victory in Him. Yes, how often do I look at myself, and feel like a failure - instead of looking at HIM, and seeing the KING?
Sandie - Oh, I love how you say things so perfect in so few words. Yes, it's a choice, isn't it? Why am I letting fear win? Something will conquer me if I let it - why not let God's victory reign supreme?!
I'm putting in my two cents (which isn't worth two cents anymore, by the way) - I agree. Winning isn't necessarily a resounding situation, if you know what I mean. We can win by a point, or win by a nose - we can just "edge" someone out at the last minute. Sometimes we just barely snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat. I can sometimes win by my own power.
But conquer - ah, that's another matter. Yes, I agree with your assessments. To conquer means a landslide, a lop-sided victory. There's no doubt who won BIG. And within the word conquer is the idea that after the victory, there is conquest. There is someone who rules over the conquered.
Winners may take home the prize today - but conquerers rule forever!
Praise God that we can be counted on His side!
GOD BLESS!