Having a victor mentality means that we choose to believe that we have victory in Christ because that is what the Word of God tells us. When we choose to believe this, the battle is already won in our minds, and we can move forward in faith.

However, having a victim mentality means that we choose to believe that our problems, spiritual giants or spiritual battles are too big for us to overcome. It can also mean that we choose to rely on our own understanding instead of trusting the Lord wholeheartedly. If we believe that we cannot overcome, the battle is lost before it has even begun and we don’t even try. The other reason why we cannot have a victim mentality and dwell in self-pity is because it is an open door for the enemy. This was a crucial point for me to understand in my journey with the Lord.

Be careful – watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart.

1 Peter 5:8 (Living bible translation)

Our precious Lord Jesus went through times of testing, persecution, suffering, temptations and difficulty – and the bible tells us that we will also go through the same things. No-one is exempt from going through difficult and trying times. The difference is how we choose to deal with each problem we face. We can choose to move forward with a victor mindset (believing God for the victory, knowing that He is faithful and true to His eternal Word, knowing that He is with us every step of the way and that He is fighting for us) or a victim mentality (giving up, because we believe that we are already defeated). I understand that it’s not always easy to have a victor mindset, especially when things seem to be going ‘pear shaped’ in our lives. I also understand that some days are harder than others.

I used to live with a negative mindset because I thought that it protected me from getting hurt or disappointed. God really had to deal with me to change this old way of thinking, and I’m so glad that He did. I still have to focus my thoughts and actions every day, but I have come a long way from where I used to be.

I hope that this will be a message of encouragement for anyone who feels like they may be struggling with a similar battle: God is the One who changes us and helps us change our way of thinking. We have to do the work of renewing our minds, but He is the One who helps us, leads us and guides us. I praise Jesus and thank Him that we are never alone, He is with us every step of the way. Jesus, through His Holy Spirit encourages us in times discouragement. He gives us His perfect strength when we feel weak. He gives us the battle plan and strategy to build our faith so that we can overcome.  Thank You Lord!

There is a good example in Scripture of how God’s people could not enter into the Promised Land primarily because of unbelief, but also because of disobedience and having a victim mentality. When it was time for the children of Israel to enter into the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan (the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey) to spy out the land and bring back a report.

Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Caleb believed God and had a victor mindset)

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (in their minds, the battle was already lost)

Numbers 13:27-33 NKJV

So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall (or be killed in battle) by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt (Egypt represents a life of bondage to sin)?”(They had a victim mentality)

Numbers 14:1-3 NKJV

But if they had only believed God, they would have gone into the land immediately to conquer the giants, defeat their enemies and claim the good land as their inheritance. The problem is that they saw themselves as small and defeated, but Scripture tells us that the inhabitants of the land (the giants) were in fear and dread of them the entire time.

After wondering in the wilderness for 40 years, it was now time for the next generation of Israelites to enter into the Promised Land under the leading of Joshua. This time Joshua sent only 2 spies to secretly search out the land and bring back a report. These 2 spies met a harlot named Rahab (who also hid them), and this is what she told them:

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.

For we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

Joshua 2:8-11 NKJV

I believe that if God’s people had only known that the inhabitants of the land were in fear and dread of them (because they had heard of the power of God), it would have been a game changer for the children of Israel. This could cause us to wonder why God hadn’t told them? My personal view is that it was because God wanted them to trust and believe Him, based upon His word and His promises to them. We know that when God makes a promise to us, He will not fail or break His promises because it goes against His good character. Nevertheless, the Israelites unfortunately didn’t obey God because of their unbelief. God then raised up another generation who would go into the land, and He strengthened this generations faith significantly by giving them the understanding that their enemies actually feared them (Joshua 2:8-11). The inhabitants of the land had heard of God’s power and how He had previously brought victory to His people.

I believe that this could also be a lesson for us. We may have had times in our lives where we have also failed to move forward because of unbelief within our own hearts. But, God in His mercy and lovingkindness will build and strengthen our faith, just as He had done for the second generation of Israelites who went into the Promised Land. Once God has strengthened our faith, we should still choose to believe Him and move in the direction He shows us. He will be with us every step of the way, helping us and guiding us. God knows each of us so well, and He knows how quickly or slowly to move with each of us. He will not move faster than we can manage because He is patient and He leads with gentleness. Anytime we feel pushed into something or feel overwhelmed, this is normally from the enemy.

I would also like to encourage you just to rest in God’s grace, faithfulness and goodness. Try not to compare your journey with another person’s journey, because each person’s journey looks different. Let us choose to move forward in faith, believing God for the victory He has promised us. Thank You Jesus!