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Have you ever heard of the passage, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"? It's from 2 Corinthians 12:9. I've heard it so many times, but have I ever looked at the passages before and after to know the context? Nope. And today's devotion had me in a tight place. I didn't understand the passage! So I Googled it, and it made so much more sense why that passage was placed in there.
Back in Paul's day, for the Corinthians, visions, revelations and receiving "something" from God was highly valued. They boasted about it, and it was regarded in a high manner. Today's equivalent would be a Ph.D or billions of dollars; you're highly regarded. For Paul, bragging about these things did not matter as long as he spread the gospel. Despite they constantly verbally attacked him about his 'lack of visions' or 'messages from God', they didn't understand. Paul went into third heaven, but he wasn't sure if he was in or out of the body, showing Paul himself isn't completely sure of the details about what happened. All he knows was that he was in the presence of God.
In verse 7, Paul says "to keep me from becoming conceited," God placed a "thorn in his side." He doesn't specify what this thorn is, but it is known that God made sure this thorn was there in order to humble him. For the Corinthians, they would have blamed it on anyone, not thinking that maybe it was a way for God to humble them in their ministry.
"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, For Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak,then I am strong." [2 Corinthians 12:9-10]
Despite whatever Paul went through, he delighted in his weaknesses. That is a lesson we all should learn from him. No matter what, delight in what trials that God has given you in order to strengthen you in your relationship with him and for him to allow you to grow spiritually to lead others. The devotion states beautifully, "In facing our fears and struggles, it’s vital that we yield totally to God. When we do, God can use our problems as an avenue for His power." Let's let God use us to the potential he has given us.
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Wielding our power is no substitute for yielding our will to God’s power.
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