world champion
"Who, then, is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." —1 John 5:5
If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you are a world champion, conqueror of the world. To become world champion, you must defeat a number of opponents. By faith in Jesus, you must beat temptation and sin, the flesh and the devil, self and death.
Even though these opponents are formidable, if God is for you, who can be against? (Rm 8:31) You will win bout after bout, overcoming trial, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, the sword (Rm 8:35), death, life, angels, principalities, the present, the future, height, depth, and every other creature (Rm 8:38-39). What a string of victories! "Thanks be to God Who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15:57).
In fact, the terms "victor," "conqueror," and "world champion" don't do you justice. In all this you are more than a conqueror because of Him Who has loved you (Rm 8:37). You are weak but He is strong. By faith you "draw your strength from the Lord and His mighty power" (Eph 6:10). Little old you beats the big bad devil — all because of Jesus.
"The Lord is with you, O champion!" (Jgs 6:12)
Prayer: Father, how did You ever make me world champion? Thank You, Jesus, for a great Christmas.
Promise: "Jesus stretched out His hand to touch him and said, 'I do will it. Be cured.' Immediately the leprosy left him." —Lk 5:13
Praise: St. Raymond "retired" several times — as a teacher, as an archbishop, as head of the Dominicans. He still serves the Lord to this day as patron saint of attorneys, barristers, canonists, lawyers, and medical record librarians.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard Walling, July 7, 2004
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 19, 2004