# Victory
We make a mistake in trying always to clear ourselves. We should be wiser to go straight on, humbly doing the next thing, and leaving God to vindicate us. There may come hours in our lives when we shall be misunderstood, slandered and falsely accused. At such times it is very difficult not to act on the policy of the men around us in the world. They at once appeal to law and force and public opinion. But the believer takes his case into a higher court and lays it before his God.

When you are neglected or snubbed or insulted, and you're able to thank God for the experience, accepting it as allowed by him for your spiritual development — that is victory.

When you're seeking to serve him faithfully and you find yourself criticized severely for the way you do it, and you accept the criticism patiently for his sake — that is victory.

When you are slandered and your motives are shelved and you do not complain but receive it in love and as a measure of the filLg up of that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ — that is victory.

Such a victory can only be won in the yielding of self to Christ. "Thanks be to God who causes me to triumph through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

Frederick Brotherton Meyer