How to Win Everyday: Keys to Following Christ for Victory
As Christians, over time we may forget what living a life in Christ really means.
We have to be reminded sometimes that we were bought with a price and that our lives are no longer our own. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 reminds us that we belong to God because we were purchased through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
When we first accepted Christ, we may have been passionate about our commitment to follow Him. We may have been determined to live differently, trust God, and pursue His will for our lives.
But over time, life happens.
Challenges come. Disappointments come. Temptations come. People hurt us. Plans don't always work out the way we expected. And sometimes, without even realizing it, we can begin to drift away from the very commitment we once made.
We can unknowingly begin rejecting what we once said we were committed to pursuing.
We may still call ourselves followers of Christ, but our lives may not reflect what it truly means to live as a Christian.
And then we wonder:
Why don't I have peace?
Why am I constantly struggling with the same things?
Why do I keep making decisions that lead me in the wrong direction?
Why don't I experience the joy, freedom, and victory that I know God has made available to me?
The truth is, following Christ is more than carrying the title of "Christian."
It is a daily decision to follow Christ, surrender our flesh, renew our minds, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
God never promised that following Him would mean we would never have challenges. Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
We will face challenges.
We will experience temptation.
We will have difficult seasons.
But we were never intended to face life in our own strength.
God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us live differently.
And if we want to experience the victory Christ died to give us, we have to understand the difference between walking according to the flesh and walking according to the Spirit.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided the way for us to be set free from the power and control of sin.
None of us is exempt from the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. We were born with a sinful nature, but when we become born again, we receive new life through Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Paul explains this in Romans 8:1–4. There is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Through Christ, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death.
That is good news!
But we also have to understand something important:
Freedom requires a choice.
God will not force us to walk according to the Spirit.
We have to choose it.
Every day.
Every decision.
Every thought.
Every relationship.
Every opportunity.
Every temptation.
Every difficult situation.
We have to choose whether we will allow the flesh to lead us or whether we will allow the Spirit to lead us.
And that is where learning how to win every day begins.
UNDERSTANDING SIN
Before we can fully appreciate what Christ accomplished for us, we have to understand what He came to save us from.
When we hear the word "sin," we can sometimes think about somebody else.
"That's that person's problem."
"I would never do something like that."
But Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23:
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard."
Sin is not simply something "bad people" do.
We all need Jesus.
The Bible describes sin in several ways.
1. Sin means missing the mark.
The Greek word hamartia carries the idea of missing the mark or falling short of God's righteous standard.
God has established a standard for how we are to live, think, speak, love, and treat others. Sin occurs when we fall short of that standard.
2. Sin is lawlessness.
1 John 3:4 describes sin as lawlessness.
In other words, sin involves disregarding God's righteous standard and choosing our own way instead of God's way.
3. Sin involves rebellion and self-centeredness.
At the heart of sin is the decision to place our own will above God's will.
It says:
"I want what I want."
"I will do what I want."
"I know what is best for me."
"I don't need God to tell me what to do."
That is why sin is ultimately a heart issue. It is about whether we will trust, honor, and submit to God or choose our own way.
4. Sin separates us from a holy God.
Isaiah 59:2 tells us that our sins create separation between us and God.
And Romans 8:7 explains that the sinful nature is hostile toward God because it does not submit to God's law.
This is why understanding sin matters.
A NATURAL EXAMPLE
Think about natural laws.
If someone runs a red light, falsifies information on an official document, drives under the influence, or uses someone else's identification they have violated the law.
Most of us understand that laws have consequences.
We may avoid breaking these laws because we don't want to face the penalties associated with them.
But Scripture tells us that sin has consequences as well.
Romans 6:23 says:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Just as violating natural laws can produce consequences, operating according to the flesh rather than the Spirit can produce consequences in our lives.
The flesh can lead us into bondage—unhealthy relationships, destructive habits, poor decisions, unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, pride, and choices that take us further away from God's purpose.
But thank God, Jesus made another way.
Jesus said in John 8:36:
"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."
Our freedom in Christ is not simply freedom from something.
It is freedom to live differently.
We are free to follow God.
Free to make different choices.
Free to say no to temptation.
Free to forgive.
Free to obey.
Free to trust God.
Free to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives.
So how do we walk in that freedom?
1. UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE FREE
Scripture: Romans 8:2
"For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."
One of the first things we have to understand is that we have been set free.
The flesh may still tempt us, but temptation does not mean we have to surrender to it.
We may have thoughts that are contrary to God's Word, but we don't have to accept every thought that enters our minds.
We may experience anger, fear, disappointment, jealousy, or frustration, but we don't have to allow those emotions to control our behavior.
We have another option.
We can be led by the Spirit.
Being controlled by the flesh is not freedom.
The flesh can lead to bondage—to people, habits, emotions, relationships, and decisions that God never intended for us.
The flesh says:
"Do what feels good."
The Spirit says:
"Do what honors God."
The flesh says:
"Get revenge."
The Spirit says:
"Forgive."
The flesh says:
"Give up."
The Spirit says:
"Trust God."
The flesh says:
"You can't."
The Spirit reminds you of what God has said.
We have been given a life-giving Spirit.
That Spirit gives us the power to live beyond what our natural nature tells us to do.
So don't forget:
You are not powerless.
You are not required to obey every temptation.
You are not required to remain bound to your past.
You are not required to let your emotions make every decision.
Christ has made freedom available to you.
2. OPERATING IN THE SPIRIT GIVES US DISCERNMENT
Scripture: James 1:5
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you."
One of the greatest benefits of walking in the Spirit is learning to develop spiritual discernment.
We make decisions every day.
We choose jobs based on how much they pay.
We choose relationships based on chemistry, attraction, and appearance.
We may choose a church based on how good the choir sounds or how comfortable we feel rather than whether God's Word is being faithfully taught.
We choose food based on how it tastes without necessarily considering whether it is good for us.
There is nothing wrong with using wisdom and common sense. But as believers, we should learn to include God in our decisions.
Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to trust in the Lord rather than relying solely on our own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all our ways.
Why?
Because everything that looks good isn't necessarily good for you.
Everything that feels good isn't necessarily God's will.
Every open door isn't necessarily your door.
Every opportunity isn't necessarily an assignment from God.
Every relationship isn't necessarily a relationship God wants you to maintain.
Spiritual discernment allows us to ask:
"God, what are You saying?"
"Is this really for me?"
"Should I move forward or wait?"
"Is this relationship helping me grow closer to You or pulling me away from You?"
"Does this opportunity align with Your purpose for my life?"
When we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we don't have to make every decision based solely on what we see.
Romans 8:14 says:
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."
Being led by the Spirit is part of what it means to live as a child of God.
3. ALLOW THE SPIRIT TO DOMINATE THROUGH OUR THOUGHTS
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5
"We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
One of the greatest battles we face each day takes place in our minds.
Thoughts are constantly coming into our minds. Some are positive. Some are negative. Some are based on our experiences. And some may directly contradict what God's Word says about us.
The key is understanding that we don't have to accept every thought that enters our minds.
If a thought comes into your mind that says:
"I'm not good enough."
"I'm a failure."
"I'll never get ahead."
"Nothing is ever going to change."
"God can't use me."
You have a choice.
You can agree with that thought, or you can take that thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ.
Why is this so important?
Because an unchecked thought can become a belief.
A belief can influence our attitude.
Our attitude can influence our behavior.
And our repeated behavior can ultimately influence the direction of our lives.
For example, if I repeatedly think, "I'm not good enough," and never challenge that thought with God's Word, eventually I may begin to believe it.
I may start seeing myself through the lens of failure rather than through the lens of what God says about me.
But when that thought comes, I can replace it with God's truth.
Instead of:
"I'm not good enough."
I can remind myself:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." — Philippians 4:13
Instead of:
"I'm a failure."
I can remind myself:
"We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus." — Ephesians 2:10
Instead of:
"I'm alone."
I can remind myself:
"I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." — Hebrews 13:5
This is what it means to renew our minds.
Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
We cannot always control what thought initially enters our minds, but we can become intentional about what we allow to remain there.
The thought may knock, but you don't have to let it move in.
Winning every day begins with learning how to manage what we allow to occupy our minds.
When we allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to influence our thinking, we begin to respond to life differently.
We stop allowing our circumstances to tell us who we are, and we start allowing God's Word to define us.
4. GET TO A PLACE WHERE OUR SPIRIT MAN DOMINATES
Scripture: Galatians 5:25
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."
While no one is perfect, our aim and our prayer each day when we wake up should be:
"Lord, help me to allow my spirit man to dominate my heart, my mind, and my body today."
Why?
Because we understand that whatever dominates the way we operate will ultimately influence the way we respond to our circumstances, the decisions we make, and the outcomes we experience.
The goal is not perfection.
The goal is surrender.
We want to get to a place where the Holy Spirit has greater influence over our thoughts, emotions, decisions, words, and actions than our flesh does.
So how do we get to a place where our spirit man dominates?
There are daily things that can help.
Start each day with prayer and time with God.
Before allowing the demands of the day to consume your attention, take time to seek God.
Talk to Him.
Listen for His direction.
Read His Word.
Allow His Word to shape your thinking.
Be intentional about what strengthens your spirit.
Be a part of things that uplift you and encourage you spiritually and as a whole.
Pay attention to the people you spend time with, the conversations you engage in, what you watch and listen to, and the environments you allow to influence you.
What we continually expose ourselves to can influence what we think about and how we respond.
Make seeking God a habit.
Don't just ask God to bless the decision you have already made.
Ask Him to lead you before you make the decision.
The more we practice seeking God, the more sensitive we become to His leading.
Every day we have a choice:
Will I allow my flesh to lead me, or will I allow the Spirit to lead me?
And every day we can pray:
"Lord, help me to surrender my will to Your will. Help me to allow Your Spirit to lead my heart, govern my mind, and direct my actions today. Let my spirit man dominate my flesh so that my life reflects You."
That is how we begin to win every day—not by having a perfect day, but by allowing God to lead us through whatever the day brings.
REFLECTION: WHAT IS DOMINATING YOU?
Winning every day begins with being honest about what is really influencing the way we think, respond, and make decisions.
Take a moment to ask yourself:
What has been dominating my thoughts lately—fear, worry, doubt, or God's Word?
Am I allowing my emotions to make decisions that I should be taking to God?
When I face difficult situations, do I run toward God or away from Him?
Am I seeking God's direction before making important decisions, or am I simply doing what feels right to me?
Is there an area of my life where my flesh has been dominating my spirit?
What do I need to surrender to God so that I can walk more fully in His Spirit?
Every day presents another opportunity to choose.
We can choose to react according to the flesh, or we can pause and ask:
"Holy Spirit, how do You want me to respond?"
We can choose to believe the negative thought, or we can take it captive and replace it with God's truth.
We can choose to make a decision based solely on what we see, or we can seek God's wisdom.
We can choose to run from God when life gets difficult, or we can draw closer to Him.
Winning means we don't have to face any of it without God.
Christ has already made a way for us to live differently. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we don't have to be controlled by our flesh, our past, our emotions, or the circumstances surrounding us.
We can choose to walk in the Spirit.
We can choose to renew our minds.
We can choose to seek God's wisdom.
We can choose obedience when our flesh wants to go another way.
And when we stumble, we don't have to stay down. We can turn back to God, receive His grace, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward.
The goal is not to wake up every morning determined to handle life in our own strength.
The goal is to wake up and say:
"Lord, lead me today."
"Lord, govern my thoughts today."
"Lord, guide my decisions today."
"Lord, help me respond in a way that honors You today."
So, if you want to know HOW TO WIN EVERY DAY, start here:
Follow Christ.
Walk in the Spirit.
Guard your thoughts.
Seek God's direction.
Surrender your will.
You may not be able to control everything that happens today, but you can choose who will control how you respond to it.
And that is where your victory begins.
Today, choose to win God's way.