Thought for the day
I heard about a youth minister who sent a thank you letter to those adultswho had served in some way throughout the previous year. His letter began:"Last summer I asked you to consider working as a youth coach in our church's junior high youth group. I am thankful for your acceptance of that challenge over this past school year. You may have felt extremely incapable as you thought about working with junior higher’s, but you claimed 2Corinthians 12:9 nevertheless.
"Part of this verse says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."However, his secretary made the mistake of typing 2 Corinthians 12:8 as the scripture reference instead, which reads, "Three times I pleaded with theLord to take it away from me!
"Though the particular verse quoted may not have conveyed the proper thought,that whole passage in 2 Corinthians is a powerful lesson to us. Through it,we learn that God does not always grant us what we request in prayer.
Sometimes he sees that what would be best for us is not the same thing as what we believe would be best for us. We want the problems to disappear; God wants us to grow closer to him. We want life to be easier; God wants usto mature and be strengthened.
Listen again:
"Concerning this thing [the thorn in the flesh] 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.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christmay rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I amweak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:8-10).
Perhaps there is a trial in your life that you are praying for God to remove. He may do so. But if he does not, may God bless you with grace and strength.
Verses
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see.
Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [fell] upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Colossians 1:15
Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God, the Firstborn and Lord of all creation.
Luke 11:9
"And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
3 John 2
Dear friend, above all I pray that things go well with you, and that you may enjoy good health: I know it is well with your soul.
Prayer
Father, when we pause to think about the incredible journey that Abraham, Sarah, and Lot “set out” for so they could eventually “arrive” at the Promised Land I’m reminded of our journey that we, as believers, have “set out” for, from the time we surrendered our hearts to You. Our journey is filled with much accumulations, family and friends, the stuff of life, and it is often strenuous and marked by uncertainties and disappointments, but also achievements and gains. This spiritual journey also provides many opportunities for us to trust You for what lies ahead as we “set out” for our invisible Promised Land on the other side of Jordan. We’ve set out for the land of heaven, and by faith, we will “arrive” there in good time. And the blessing of this arrival is that we won’t have to pack or unpack a thing – all we have need of (and much, much more) will be provided in your well-furnished heaven, in Jesus Wondrous Name - Amen
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