MY Strength Is Made Perfect In Weakness

                                                     When The Door Slams 

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the LORD three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."                                                                       2 Corinthians 12:8 

 Paul had "a thorn in the flesh" that kept bothering him. He did three things with it.                      1.  He faced it head-on. He didn't pretend and deny that it was part of his life.                               2.  He placed it at God's feet in prayer. He petitioned God to take it away three times. For some reason, God chose not to do that. Therefore Paul took another step.                                         3.  He embraced it. He accepted this obstacle that made him feel weak, since it made him more aware of his need for the LORD in his life. 

        Many theologians have tried to guess what Paul's thorn was. Some of the suggestions are that it was a personal temptation. Others say it was an unresolved interpersonal conflict, or a chronic physical illness such as malaria, migraine headaches, or an eye disease. Whatever the problem, Paul's principles for dealing with it also apply to us today with our personal thorns in the flesh. 

        Think about this: With our personal issues, we need to face them and place them at God's feet daily, and finally, embrace them. The result of this action is that Christ's power is best displayed against the background of our weakness. My weakness is God's opportunity to demonstrate His strength and perfect power in my weakness.  

Renewal: By Your grace, I want to observe Your judgments and keep Your statutes, to walk in them; You are the LORD my God. May I keep Your statues and Your judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; You are the LORD (Leviticus 18:4-5). May I fear the LORD and serve and obey Him and not rebel against the command of the LORD (1 Samuel 12:14).

Petition: May I not imitate what is evil but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God (3 John 11).

Intercession: LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest in You. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You (2 Chronicles 14:11). 

Affirmation: You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3). I will see the LORD while He may be found And call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him For His forgiveness. 

                                                        Never Rest Ministries