Jesus said: ‘Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down…or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though they don’t like it, I do!’ (Matthew 5:11-12 MSG). If you’re thin skinned, you will have a rough time in life because you will be an easy target for the devil. Paul endured desertion by his friends, ugly letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in Philippi, mocking in Athens, and finally imprisonment and beheading in Rome.

The Bible gives us these four principles for victorious living:

1) Be on the alert. Why? Because you have an adversary who is out to get you (see 1 Peter 5:8). What’s he after? The God-given potential he knows lies within you. You’re a seed capable of producing a harvest of blessing.

2) Stand firm in the faith. Why? Because you can’t stand on your feelings, your circumstances, or the opinions of others. Those things change constantly, so you must stand firm on the Word of God.

3) Act like an adult. Why? Because being childish won’t cut it when the battle is raging. It’s time to grow up; if you’re still making the same mistakes twenty-five years later, you’re not learning enough.

4) Be strong. Why? Because weakness is an invitation to the Enemy. It always precedes surrender – and giving up is not an option for you. God told His people the promised land was theirs – but they would have to fight for it. And you will too!