I learnt something from my mum that I’d never forget. We lived with some cantankerous neighbours who would haul insults at the slightest opportunity. My mum would not respond. Her lesson to us was this; “Abuses cannot stick to you if you don’t pay attention.” She kept her sanity in the midst of insanity. I understood how to lose to win.

Friend, as far as your outcomes in life are concerned, you have got two choices; win to lose or lose to win. The way you relate with God and His demands on your life would decide your victory or defeat (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

Winning to lose is a temporary victory that would bring permanent defeat while losing to win is a temporary defeat that would bring permanent victory. Jacob lost to win. After engaging in an overnight struggle with the angel, he got broken; his thigh was out of joint. But this was to mark the beginning of great things in his life and destiny (Genesis 32:24-28).

It is better to lose to God than to the devil (Genesis 6:3). If you choose to have your way, God would have no choice than to give up. If God is asking you to drop a bad habit, you had better let Him have His way, else, the enemy would triumph over you in the near future. This was the undoing of Samson (Judges 14:3, 16:21).

In life, there are minor battles and there are major battles. Wisdom demands that you lose the minor battles so you can win the major battles. For David, the confrontation with his brothers was a minor battle; he allowed it to slide. But facing Goliath was the major battle that would define his destiny (1 Samuel 17:26-30).

Like David, don’t waste your emotions on minor battles or issues. Stop keeping offences with people when God has reserved a special blessing for you (SoS 2:15). You cannot be offended and anointed at the same time. Watch out for distractive battles when you are at the verge of breakthrough in destiny (2 Corinthians 2:11). The devil cannot destroy you unless he distracts you.

‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria