This devotional was written by Chloee Jean.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalms 118
vic·to·ri·ous – having won a victory; triumphant.
This word for me, Chloee, is pretty personal. Last year, 2020, was one that I entered in defeat. The year before I had been pursued by two different guys and both pursuits ended with me in tears, completely heartbroken, and in complete defeat. I felt like there was no hope for me. All there was left was pain, tears, brokenness, and complete defeat.
Every morning would consist of tears streaming down my face as I got ready for work, feeling worthless and not good enough for anyone, and at the end of every workday, more tears would stream down my face as the words echoed through my head once again: “not good enough”, “worthless”, “alone”, “defeated”, “broken”…
The enemy got me into a repetitive routine. I would wake up crying, go to bed crying, and the moments in-between were fake smiles because I absolutely hated being asked how I was doing.
Busy days became my favorite kind of days because I didn’t have to sit in the pit of my defeat, my brokenness, and my tears. Every chance I could grab hold of to distract myself from the fight that was lost, I’d take it, and the feelings of brokenness, defeat, and feeling less than were never addressed; they were pushed down; rooted into my heart. Satan won again. He took yet another relationship that I so badly desired and craved to have; he struck me down, just as I felt I was finally doing better, he ripped away my hope, my joy, my happiness. And the worst part about it all, no one knew that; he took that away from me too.
Or so I thought.
In the midst of my despair and what felt like an unending heartbreak and complete brokenness and utter defeat, God came rushing in and stood next to me. “Have courage”, He whispered so softly in my heart, “there will be victory. You will be victorious.”.
Those words came rushing in and brought me back to life. Those words breathed a new breath in my soul and brought so much comfort to my broken, defeated heart. God gave me the strength and the ability to stand and fight for another day, for another relationship, for hope, for joy, for happiness, and, most importantly, fight for victory.
Psalm 118 came to me in the middle of summer 2020, in the middle of the spacious place God brought me into. When I first read this passage, three verses stood out to me and were an encouragement to my healing heart, and I would like to point these verses out to you.
Vs. 5 says, “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.”
Vs. 15 says, “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
Vs. 28 says, “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
Friend, no matter where you may be right now, whatever fight you may be facing in this moment, cry out to God. He will bring you into a spacious place, a place where shouts of joy and victory will resound. And don’t forget to praise Him in the process, for His right hand has done mighty things.
There is victory found in Him. You are victorious. Walk-in that truth today, tomorrow, and always. You may not see the victory right away, but it is there. Just have hope and press into God.
“I’m gonna see a victory, I’m gonna see a victory, for the battle belongs to you Lord
…
You take what the enemy meant for evil and you turn it for good” – See A Victory by Elevation Worship
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
be.victorious
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ” – Romans 8:37-39
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Chloee Jean is a youth leader, a Podcaster, a Digital Creator, Worship Leader, Social Media Manager, and a firm believer in Christ. She was born and raised in a Christian home and spent her days as a little girl singing songs, playing around on the piano, and drawing with her crayons. After years of hardships and trials, Chloee found escape in her music and writing her own lyrics. She pursued a Worship Leader certificate at Bethel Music’s Worship School. When she completed her course, she led worship with her sister, Aliseea, at a small youth group they were both currently serving in. After they both stepped down from that role and during 2020’s pandemic, Chloee started her own podcast called W.O.W and small business, Simply by Chloee Jean. She now finds joy in speaking God’s Word, singing about it occasionally with her sister, and creating digital designs to point others back to God and His Word. When Chloee isn’t designing or podcasting, she spends quality time with her family by having game nights, a movie marathon, or even jamming out to some worship songs. To find her on social media, check out her Instagram page!