Soul Care - Victory
by Mary Elsbury
Over the past year, we have been seeking how to live more like Jesus.
We started the year learning how God has a plan for our lives and surrendering to Him means we set aside our own plans and eagerly seek His. The more areas of our lives we surrender to Him, the more room there is for the filling of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit the fruit of His character.
We all want to feel like someone worthwhile and appreciated for our accomplishments. Humility comes from shifting the focus away from self and completely submitting to God’s divine plan. When our focus is on His plans, we can start to see how our purpose in Christ grows far beyond our intentions. No matter what plans come to pass - or not - we can have peace, knowing that even if the plans fail, God’s purpose always prevails.
We are like God when we are generous. Jesus offers a life that is not dependent on wealth for happiness or pleasure – it comes from obeying God. Our desire is to be more like God and to follow his example, especially when he has given so much to us.
One such gift is having an advocate that intercedes for us. From the time we are first drawn to Christ, until the day we are actively engaged in ministry and beyond, His Holy Spirit is at work in us. How do you experience the Spirit’s work in your life? I keep telling myself, “I can’t but God can – His plans are for my good and His glory.” The concept of living out truth and grace is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. The motivation to be full of grace and truth is not because we need to earn God’s unmerited favor, but because being a follower of Christ means we look like the one we follow. As we live by truth and speak it boldly, we can show others the grace that has transformed our lives and can transform theirs.
We’re all messy humans, so there are times when relationships get complicated. If we are truly trying to model Jesus, we should focus on what He told his disciples in John 15: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Love is the key. We need to learn to love like Jesus loved – the broken, poor, wealthy, shunned, liars – He sought out relationships with all of them. And so should we. Disciple making is entering into relationships and sharing how life can be transformed by relying on Christ rather than self. It is personally sharing, offering patient explanation, guidance, and modeling the truths Jesus expects his disciples.
It’s reassuring to know our God is “the God of all comfort,” who has promised never to leave us or forsake us. One thing we can do in a tragedy is reach out to others with compassion, walk with those in need and comfort them (Matthew 5:4). God’s Word is filled with prayers, crying out to God when all seems lost. Prayers are a way of communicating with God. As Richard Foster wrote in Celebration of Discipline, “To pray is to change.” When big decisions need to be made, I try to focus only on God through fasting. Fasting is a denial of normal necessities (like food) and is not a way to manipulate God into granting what I need, but rather it allows me to surrender control and listen for His guidance.
In this noisy world where busyness is king, our Father beckons us to rest, to maintain a Sabbath so that we can know Him more deeply. A Sabbath imparts the rest of God – actual physical, spiritual, and mental rest – that allows us to slow down and drink in the things of God’s nature and presence. This rest is essential to our faith and spiritual walk.
As we close out 2025, we can see that living more like Jesus brings us victory. We have seen that the concept of victory in the Bible is achieved through faith in God, relying on His strength and being obedient to His purpose, rather than our human efforts alone. Looking forward to 2026, our challenge is to pray continually, be accountable, and to stand on God’s Word daily. I’m praying your journey to live more like Jesus continues…
