weakness – herbcotton.org

Are You Using the Key You Have to Unlock the Potential Within You?

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

2 Corinthians 12:9 King James Version (KJV)

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.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

9 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for[My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Do you tend to focus more on your weaknesses than to use and grow based on the strengths you already have at your disposal?

If you are redeemed, why not be encouraged, uplifted and inspired by this verse from the Apostle Paul?

Galatians 2:20 King James Version (KJV)

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Do you believe and know in your heart that God’s grace is sufficient for you? If so, then why not celebrate your weaknesses rather than worry about trying to fix them? Don’t you know that God is able and that He willing to help you complete the work that He has begun in you?

Philippians 4:13 King James Version (KJV)

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

Philippians 4:19 King James Version (KJV)

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Now is the time to take our eyes off of the temporal; the things that are dying, and fix our eyes upon Jesus and the things that are eternal.

1 Corinthians 13:13 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Father, hallowed be Your name; the name that is above every name on earth and in heaven. Father, we can never repay You for the grace You have given to all who believe and receive the gift of redemption we have in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-5 King James Version (KJV)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

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Do You Really Know the Lord?

Text:

Exodus 33:12-14 (ESV)

12 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’

13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”

14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Observation:

What is your purpose for being alive? What has God gifted you to do? Who is your source for help in accomplishing your purpose?

The Lord gave Moses a huge assignment. Moses talked to the Lord, and the Lord talked to Moses. Do you have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord?

Let’s examine some of the elements of the relationship that Moses had with the Lord.

Psalm 103:7-8 (ESV)

7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Notice that the Lord made known his ways to Moses. The key for Moses was his habit of talking to the Lord, and trusting in the Lord.

If you are willing to look to the Lord, He will give you the strength you need to accomplish your purpose.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer; trust in Him, and ask Him to exchange our weakness for His strength. Then take the next step in doing what the Lord tells you to do. Don’t forget, that you are never alone, and you always have everything you need to do God’s will.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV)

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Prayer:

Psalm 62:5-8 (ESV)

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

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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.

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How to Handle Your Big & Small Problems

Text:

Acts 4:18-20 (ESV)

18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,

20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Observation:

The Apostles Peter and John had a huge problem. After healing a man in the name of Jesus, they were brought before the authorities of the Government, and ordered to cease preaching in the name of Jesus.

Notice what these disciples did when they were facing this opposition from people who had the power to punish them severely. They gather with other Christ followers, and they prayed.

Acts 4:29 (ESV)

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

When God’s people pray the power of God moves in supernatural power. God hears and answers the prayers of His people, and He shows up in power.

Acts 4:31 (ESV)

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Notice how God’s people prayed. They had been warned not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Who do you think they obeyed? They chose to obey God.

They did this, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness”.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I ask that You would quicken and quiet our hearts before You. Father, I ask that You stir and steer our hearts to take our problems to You in prayer first, and not last.

Father, make the desires of our hearts to be like the desires of Your heart so that when we pray we will know that You will hear, and answer our prayers.

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:16 (ESV)

16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

Father, create in us the desire to delight in You, to cast all of our cares upon You, and to be grateful, and thankful for what we have. 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

What Are You Doing With Your Time?

Text:

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.

Observation:

I came to my computer this morning with an open heart. The Lord directed my eyes to the above passage. In that passage I discovered my one word for today; it is weakness.

I looked at a scratch pad I had next to my computer and I had written down recently the question that I am using for the title. As I read the passage from 2 Corinthians in context I was reminded of a conversation I had with a friend when he was in the hospital, and facing a very serious health challenge. What I told my friend was that God does not take us into deep waters to drown us.

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

The past three weeks have been a difficult time in our household with our upper respiratory system. It has been a lot of weakness in our home with the coughing, sore throats, and laryngitis.

However, we have a great example of how to deal with sickness and adversities in our home; the example of my late wife Rosemary. This is one of the scriptures that she cherished, and lived out as a 25 year cancer survivor.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that Your grace is sufficient for all of our needs, and that in weakness we have the privilege of demonstrating to a watching world, by the way we live our lives, that the power belongs to God and not to us. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.