#godsstrength – herbcotton.org

Seeing Beyond Our Weaknesses#

Text:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Observation:

When trouble, trials, difficulties, and disappointments come in our life we should cry out to God. However, we should not lose hope when God does not give us everything we ask.

We should allow what happened in Paul’s life to inform our lives when we pray for deliverance from our thorn in the flesh. Could it be that what we are going through is for God’s glory, and for our good?

2 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NLT)

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

There is something about thorns in the flesh that bends us toward humility. Additionally, the recognition of the weaknesses in our humanity bends us toward bowing the knee, looking up, and recognizing the greatness of God.

The recognition of the sovereignty and greatness of God, and the goodness and grace of God gives us peace, and contentment in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for all of our needs.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, it is such a blessing to know that our weaknesses, even when they are painful, are working to bring about a higher goal, and that Your amazing grace is sufficient for all of our needs.

Psalm 46:1 (HCSB)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Father, we love You, and can’t get enough of You. Father, thank You for always being present, and on time. Father, I am so glad that the things that matter are things that are eternal. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

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Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Where Do You Go When You Have A Heavy Heart?

Text:

Luke 22:39-43 (ESV)

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Observation:

During the Passion Week Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives. He went there to pray.

This example of Jesus informs me of where I should go when I have a heavy heart; when the burdens and circumstances get too big for me. If Jesus felt the need to pray, then what about you and me?

Notice how Jesus prayed:

Luke 22:42 (ESV)

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

When God gives us something to do, we can expect it will be more than we can do in our strength. We say I can’t do that; I’m too weak. It’s in this condition that He can use us. Paul’s life is an example of this truth.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In answer to the prayer of Jesus, God the Father gave Jesus what He needed to fulfill God’s will for His life.

Luke 22:43 (ESV)

43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

God the Father heard the prayer of Jesus. He did not take the cup of suffering away from Jesus, but He gave Him the strength to turn it into the cup of salvation.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed by Your name. Father, I am so grateful that we can come to You in prayer, and exchange our weaknesses for Your strength. Father, gives us the faith to trust in You. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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Are You Able to do All Things in Your Life?

Text:

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Observation:

The above two verses came together for me this morning in my first appointment of the day; my appointment with my heavenly Father.

I was talking with a friend at church Sunday morning, and the first verse came up, but neither of us could remember the chapter and verse. He came to me later and quoted the verse.

Then, this morning the second verse came up in my reading, and the Holy Spirit connected the two in my mind, and I begin to meditate upon them.

This verse from Philippians has two parts; our part, and God’s part. I notice that the verse from Psalm also has the same two parts.

The light bulb experience for me was the revelation that when God is directing my steps I can do all that He is leading me to do because He supplies the strength to do it.

Our delight comes when we take the next step that the Lord directs us to take. Then I coupled that with the verse from yesterday’s devotional.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

5b For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I am encouraged and strengthened to know that God directs my steps, and that He supplies the strength that I need to do all things that He leads and directs me to do.

Additionally, He gives this ironclad guarantee, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. If God is in it, there is nothing that He directs you to do that will be impossible for you to do.

Luke 1:37 (ESV)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I delight to sing Your praises at this good news from Your Word.

Father, I pray that You will open the eyes and ears of our hearts to receive it, and the faith to obey Your calling, and the directions You give us in our daily living.

Father, help us, by Your strength, to walk in faith, and to walk in the Spirit of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry