Tag: grace sufficient

Crying out to God

Posted in God will provide, Pauline epistles--BibleTrekToday, Psalms-BibleTrekToday - September 15, 2026 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for September 15: Psalm 88:13-15 “But I, O Lord, cry out to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You. O Lord, why do You cast my soul away? Why do you hide Your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer Your terrors; I am helpless.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Those who have suffered affliction or sickness for an extended period often struggle with believing that God hears them or knows their desperate situation. Weeks and sometimes years of crying out to God go by without the answer coming. Feelings of weakness, weariness and helplessness sweep over them. Psalm 88 was written by a son of Korah and was added to the worship set of Israel and stands for us as a reminder that God’s timing and answers are often mysteries. We must continue in faith and worship. We can honestly share our feeling with God and confess our weakness and our need of His strength.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was given great revelation and insight by God. But he was also given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass him. Paul sought the Lord three times to ask for it to be sent away. But God did not remove this ‘thorn’ as Paul had requested. Instead, God told him that His grace would be sufficient to bear up under this Satanic harassment. God was being merciful to Paul to keep him from conceit and pride. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and dependence through faith. When we confess our weakness and dependence on God, then we are candidates for His sufficient grace to bear up whether for a short time or a long endurance.

Prayer: Father God, these lessons from the psalmist and the apostle Paul are hard for me to process. I have been told to be strong and take authority over Satan and his attacks. Deepen my relationship with Jesus that I might honestly deal with my weaknesses and dependency on You. Amen.

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Strength through weakness

Posted in Uncategorized - September 7, 2023 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for September 7th: 2nd Corinthians 12, Psalm 29, Proverbs 24

2nd Corinthians 12: 7-10 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

People often boast of their strengths and skills. Self-promotion and pride go hand in hand. But Paul encouraged believers by what he had learned through many trials and tests. Although Paul had great wisdom and amazing revelations of the glory of heaven, he was weak. To keep him from being conceited, a messenger of Satan was permitted to attack Paul in his flesh. We don’t know exactly what this trial was, except that after praying three times, the Lord instructed Paul to rely on His grace! God said His power is perfected in weakness. For Christ’s sake, Paul chose to be content with God’s grace and found new strength in his weaknesses! This is the upside/down principle of kingdom living as we endure earth’s trials and receive greater revelation of our Lord.

Psalm 29:10-11 “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as King forever. May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!”

Prayer: Father God, Your grace is indeed sufficient for me. You are King forever and You Alone can give me strength and peace in every trial and test of life. Thank You for the revelation of Your Son as my Savior and King. Thank You for the Holy Spirit as my Counselor, Who takes Your Truth and reveals it to my soul, giving me strength and the assurance of victory! To You be all glory and honor, forever!

Proverbs 24:5-6 “A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

Grace sufficient to the trial!

Posted in Uncategorized - August 13, 2019 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for August 13th:  2nd Corinthians 12, Psalm 11, Proverbs 7

Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 12:7-9 “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  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 in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  

Paul did not live a life a privilege as an apostle of Christ.  He faced many trials and in this case, a thorn in his flesh which was from Satan.  He shared how he pleaded with the Lord to remove it, but His answer was different than what Paul desired.  The Lord promised grace sufficient for the test.  God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and dependency on Him.

Faith Confession:  Lord, I am weak and need Your grace each day to sustain me in the trials of life on earth.  Thank You for grace sufficient to each pressing need and satanic trial.

Psalm 11:4-5 “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man.  The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”