Devotional: Our Starting Line Is Victory

Ephesians 2:4–6  – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Context & Connection

The Christian walk is not without battles. In fact, it’s often a life of constant conflict—against our flesh, the world, and spiritual forces of darkness. But the apostle Paul anchors us in a truth far greater than our struggles: our position in Christ. From the moment we believed the gospel, God placed us in a position of victory.

We don’t fight for victory—we fight from it

Phrase by Phrase Breakdown

• “But God, who is rich in mercy” – Our story doesn’t begin with our sin, it begins with His mercy. His love moved toward us when we were dead and helpless.
• “made us alive together with Christ” – Salvation is not self-improvement; it’s resurrection life. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• “raised us up together” – Just as Christ rose from the dead, so we are raised with Him. His victory is our victory.
• “made us sit together in the heavenly places” – This is not future tense but present reality. Right now, we are seated with Christ, secure in His triumph.

Devotional Insight

When trials come—and they will—it’s natural to wonder, “Where is God in all of this?” In our flesh, it doesn’t feel normal to rejoice when life is hard. But our identity isn’t in the flesh. We are new creations in Christ.

This means our starting line is victory. We don’t fight for victory—we fight from it. The resurrection power of Christ secures our place, even in the storm. And by the Holy Spirit, we can rejoice with unshakable confidence that in all these things—not apart from them, but in the very midst of them—we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Encouragement for Today

You may be walking through a storm, or one may be just over the horizon. Remember this truth: your position is already secured. You are alive in Christ, raised with Him, and seated in heavenly places. That means your starting line is victory.

📖 Reading Plan:

• Romans 8:37 – In all these things we are more than conquerors.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
• John 16:33 – In the world you will have tribulation, but Christ has overcome the world