Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – 2 Corinthians 2:8-10 – When I Am Weak – Growing As Disciples
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 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 12:8-10 (NIV)
Being Weak
Do I have to be weak? Isn’t there any other choice? Can’t I be strong? Can’t I be bold and courageous. Can’t I be steady and immoveable? Can’t I be a force to be reckoned with? Maybe, I’m going a little over the top. But, why can’t I have and be everything I need? Those are questions of the past that frequently occupied my heart and mind. I have never been a fan of being weak. I have never enjoyed not having or being everything, I need. I have wanted to be equal to every task. I have wanted to be bold and confident and strong. I have wanted every gift and talent and ability so I could accomplish every plan and fulfill every purpose. But, I have come to understand that it is a very good thing I have not had or been all I have needed. Why is that? As weak as I am, I have still struggled with being self-reliant and self-sufficient and self-centered. I could keep listing how I have depended on myself. There is no need, we both get the idea.
It has been good to come to realize that I don’t have and am not all I need. Why is that? I have come to rely on you. I have come to ask for your help. I have asked you to be strong in my weakness. My weakness has caused me to live in a more intimate relationship with you. That’s true. You have heard and answered my prayer. How so? You have worked in and through my weaknesses. You have given me your courage and strength. You have made me bold and steady. You have given me all I have needed to accomplish your plans and fulfill your purposes. It is only because I have relied on you that I have been able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Only in my weakness have I come to know that your power was resting on me. That is very good.
So, I give you thanks and praise for not making me strong. Thank you for causing me to come to rely on you. Thank you for working in and through my life. Thank you that I can live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. Nothing has been better than knowing that you are working in and through my life. Keep on relying on me. Yes Lord, I will.
Lord, I don’t like being weak. Being weak has been frustrating. Being weak has been scary. Being weak has been uncomfortable. I can give thanks for being weak. Being weak has caused me to rely on you. Being weak has allowed you to work in and through me. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Prayer – 2 Corinthians 12-8-10 – When I Am Weak – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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