Tag Archives: Strength

Boasting

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Paul lived an amazing life. If you can see it, do it, or experience it, he pretty much did.

Both in terms that are pretty awesome – seeing Jesus, preaching across the world, starting churches, writing a good portion of the bible.

And things that were not so good – persecuting the church. Helping in the stoning of Stephen. Various kinds of trials and persecutions.

He has seen a lot. He had done a lot. He had a lot things to be proud of and a lot of things to hang in head in shame over. And today in 2 Corinthians 11:28-30, he talks about what it is that he will boast in. Listen to what he says.

And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

boasting_296He says that he will boast not in his strengths and accomplishments, which he had just listed a few verses before, but says that he will boast in the things that make him weak.

Who in the world does that? And if so, why in the world would they do it?

To show that their strength comes not from themselves, but from God. Paul says that he will boast in his weakness, because his weakness shows the power of God at work in his life.

So today, in that area of weakness in your life, that area of hurt and pain, in that area, you can boast. Why? Because that area can show the strength of God within you. Because it’s not you that does it or is faithful in that area. It’s God.

Today, don’t boast in your strength. Boast in your weakness. Because in your weakness, God’s strength is show.

Today, if we boast, may we boast in Him!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Temptation – Two Reminders

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Today in our reading, Paul gives us two very helpful reminders about how to deal with temptation in our lives. Temptation is something that every Christian (and everyone, period!) must deal with.

Paul offers two really helpful encouragements today in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. Listen to what God says today:

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Temptation_-_Cat_and_Goldfish_BowlFirst, we see this reminder – be careful. Don’t get arrogant. Don’t get prideful. Paul says that if we think we stand, be careful or you will fall.

What does he mean by that? Shouldn’t we stand?

Yes, we should. But we should remember how we stand. And remember whose strength we stand upon. If we think we stand on our strength or might or power, we will fall. We don’t stand based upon us. We stand based upon Him.

So, in your fight against temptation, be careful in your stand. Remember we stand only in Him. Don’t rely upon your power, or you will fall.

Rely upon His, and you will stand.

Second, Paul reminds us these words, that in every temptation, God will give us an escape. And out. A help.

What is that? Perhaps a Bible verse that you can call to mind in the midst of temptation. Or an accountability partner that will be there for you. Perhaps a song on your heart. Perhaps the ability to get up and walk out.

But, God has promised, He will give us an out. He will give us a way.

Don’t give up. Don’t lose heart. You can do this. You can. Through Him and His power and strength, you can.

Don’t give up. He’s with you. And will be with you. Today and every day, in your struggle and temptation.

And through Him, we will overcome.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Should We Do?

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Today, you may be facing a variety of things. Today, you may be facing a challenge that looks to great for you. What should you do in that?

Or today may be the most amazing day that you could possibly ever imagine. It may be the greatest day in your life. What should you do?

Or perhaps you are facing some type of illness or sickness. Or someone you love is facing a disease. What should you do?

Maybe you feel guilt over a sin that you committed, something that you’ve done that makes you want to hide your face from God. What should you do?

Listen to what James 5:13-16 says today:

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

prayIn each of these situations, in suffering, in praise, in sickness, in sin, in whatever we face, what should we do? We should pray. No matter what it is that we face today, good or bad, joy or pain, challenge or reward, we should pray.

We pray for strength to meet whatever it is that we face.

We pray prayer of praise for the goodness and blessings God has given us.

We pray prayers of confession for the forgiveness we need for sin.

We pray, because no matter what it is that we are going through, not matter what it is that is on our agenda, no matter what it is that is happening, this is the one thing that we all need.

We all need to see God’s face. We all need His grace. We all need His power and love.

We all need Him.

Today, what should we do? Today. We should pray.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Strength and Wisdom

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Strength is not always strength.

The ones that are strong, they are not always the strong ones.

The ones that should be wise, they are not always the wise one.

Strength and Wisdom, they don’t always come from the ones that it looks like they should.

They can, and will, come from very surprising places.

Listen to the text read today from Ecclesiastes 9:15-17

But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

In this, the hero of the passage is not the invading king or army, but it is a poor wise man, who in his wisdom saved the town.

I think today, this passage can share a couple of things with us. First, don’t be so sure that you know today how and where God will speak to you. In this passage, who would long to hear from a poor man. What wisdom could he have?

In turn, this man as able to impart the wisdom that saved the town.

Today, listen to everyone. Don’t over look anyone. Don’t think that anyone is unimportant.

Because you never know who God may choose to speak to you through.

Second, today, you may not feel like you have much to contribute or much to say. You may feel like you aren’t strong or wise.

And that’s the very best place to be to find strength and wisdom. Strength and wisdom don’t come from ourselves, but come from God.

Today, you can do it. You can be strong and wise. You can speak in amazing ways. You can do amazing things.

Today, you can do it. No through your own power and might. But through God’s.

Today, look for God to speak to you in ways you’d never expect. And know that today, if you will let Him, He will use you in ways you’d never expect!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Temptation

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I think sometimes the worst part about being a Christian is temptation. What do Imean by that?

Well before you were a Christian, temptation was a reality, and we may give into things, but in many ways, we probably lived our lives seeing what we can get away with. If no one knows, then it’s ok. What’s it matter if it is wrong?

Now, as a Christian, I know there are things that are wrong. And I know that I, and you, are tempted every day to do things that we know are wrong. And I know that we tend to give into temptation.

And, we don’t like it. I don’t like the way that I feel when I fall. I don’t like the way that I feel when I choose wrong. I don’t like the way that I feel when I give into temptation.

We long for a day when we don’t face temptation. We love for a day when don’t have deal with this struggle. We wish we didn’t have to face it.

But know this. When we do face temptation, we serve a God that understands. We serve a God, that through His son, understands what we are going through. That has been where we are. And knows.

Listen to what the Word says in Hebrews 4:15-16:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Today, the Lord knows your temptations, knows your weaknesses, and knows your struggles. He has been there. He has walked it. He knows.

So, when we turn to Him in our moment of temptation and weakness, He will be there. He will give us strength and courage. He will give us what we need to fight it, to stand up against it, and to overcome it.

And when we fall, He will pick us up again. He will love us. He will forgive us.

Temptation is a constant struggle. And I am thankful to serve a God that understands it. And that walks with us, even in the midst of it.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones

Thorn in the Flesh

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I don’t like being weak. I don’t like asking for help. I’m a pretty independent guy. I can pretty much do it for myself and I have to ask you to help me, then it’s not worth doing.

I hate asking for help. I hate not being able to do it myself.

But, here’s the thing about faith. We can’t do it by ourselves. We can and aren’t able to save ourselves. We have to ask for help; we have to ask for God’s help.

Listen to what Paul talks about today in 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.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul said to keep him from boasting, he had a thorn in the flesh given to him. No one knows what it was, but whatever it was, it made him weak. It humbled him. It made him turn to God and ask for it to be removed.

He asked God to take it away. And each time, God said no. Because God’s power is made perfect in Paul’s weakness.

Why? Why does Paul have this thorn? Why do we have to deal with similar things? Why must we go through this?

Because God’s grace is sufficient. God’s grace is all we need. And we have to turn to it for strength.

For comfort.

For life.

Today, especially, if you are like me, the “not ask for help, I can do it all myself” type person, stop. Turn to God. Find His grace. Mercy. Grace. Forgiveness.

We can’t do it alone. We aren’t good enough or strong enough. We need Him and His life.

Turn to God. Find His life. His mercy. His hope. His purpose.

Today, may we find our strength in His strength. And may we find our life in His life.

May our thorns in the flesh be used for what they were made for.

To turn us to Him.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are

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One of my favorite songs by Rich Mullins is entitled We are Not as Strong as we Think we Are. It’s not a song that many of us have heard; I heard it for the first time when I was in college.

I was going through a rough time, that odd point in life when you aren’t sure where your place is in life; what God is calling you to; what you will do. I always enjoyed Rich Mullins’ music and I bought his CD (yes, I’m so old I remember CDs!) Songs. And I hear this song. The words still resonate with me today:

We are frail, we are fearfully and wonderfully made . . . we must be awfully small and not strong as we think we are.

That song summed up the tension of life so well to me. We are frail and weak, but we are also fearfully and wonderfully made.

But we need the humility to understand that we are not a strong as we think we are.

Listen to what Jesus says today in Matthew 23:11-12:

The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

We must humble ourselves. We must arrogance has no place in our hearts. We stand on God’s grace and mercy. And we are not as strong as we think w are.

Our strength comes not from ourselves, but from Him. Our ability to stand is not our own, but His. Our life is not our life, but His.

Today, know you are fearfully and wonderfully made. But also know that you are frail and needy.

And know that when we humble ourselves, realize our weakness, we will find His strength. Today, may we live with humility. And may we find His strength.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Stand

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One of the things that people here at Asbury are used to hearing me say is that life is not full of rainbows and unicorns. Life can and will tough at times. There will be trials and worries and struggles.

Paul in this passage we read today reminds us of that. Paul tells us that we will have to stand against the schemes of the devil. We will wrestle not against flesh and bone, but against the powers of this dark age.

Listen to what he writes in Ephesians 6:10-13:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Remember, the person that you see as your enemy is not your enemy. Our enemies are not others – our enemy is the evil one, the devil, the one out to destroy us now, and forever.

Paul reminds us, though, that we must fight. We will have troubles. We will face attacks. There will be tough moments ahead. So, what do we do? Listen to what he says.

First, be strong in the Lord. This brief passage is the introduction to the Amor of God, and it describes the weapons that God has given us to fight against the evil, the sin, the temptation in our lives.

Stand in God’s strength. No that He is the one that gives you the power and ability to stand against the evil in your life, in the world, and in the things that you face. Rely upon God. Lean upon God. Trust upon God.

When temptation comes, rely upon God’s power working through you. Stop. Pray. Lean upon Him. He will give you the strength.

And second, with the strength He gives you – stand. He will do His part. You do yours. He will give you strength for you legs. Stand upon them. He will give you the power. Use it.

Today, you will face troubles, trials, and temptations. You will.

You can handle it. You can do it. You can fight it! You can! Trust in God’s strength. And stand in it! God will be with you!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Weakness

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We’ve seen a lot of passages this that call us to get up and go! We can do it! Keep pushing! Keep working! You can do it!

And I feel that way. But I also drink a lot of coffee, so it could just be the caffeine talking.

There are times though. There are lots of times in our lives when we are just too weak. We are too tired. We just can’t do it. We are give out. And we want to give up. We just can’t do it.

In those times, remember what we see here in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

None of us are strong enough. God doesn’t love us because we are strong. He doesn’t love us because we are awesome. He doesn’t love us because we are perfect.

So, today if you feel imperfect, that’s ok. If you feel weak, that’s ok. If you feel like you can’t do it, that ok. Because it’s God. It’s God working though us. It’s God that carries us. It’s God that calls us. It’s God that saves us. It’s God that grows us.

It’s God through us.

Instead of feeling bad or ashamed at being weak or unable, we can boast in it. We can boast in our weakness. Because it’s God. It’s God in us. It’s God through us.

Yes, we are weak. And He loves us anyway.

Now that’s awesome.

His Grace is Enough

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None of us like to be weak. None of like to think about or be reminded about the things that we don’t do well. None of us enjoy these things.

But, we all have them. We all have areas of weakness. We have things that are painful.

And I’m not talking about temptation. I’m not talking things that we are not great at. I’m talking about things that hurt. That tender spot in your life that when you, or someone else, touches it, it really hurts.

I’m talking about those flaws, those pains, that when they flare up, it hurts. I talking about the things in our lives that make us doubt ourselves, doubt God, doubt everything.

I’m talking about the spot in your life that have flung your hands up to the heavens and yelled – please God, please take this.  That is what Paul is talking about today in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10. Listen to what he say when talking about his thorn in the flesh:

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.

Paul asks three times for God to take this thorn. To take this from him. To give him relief and peace.  And God doesn’t take it.

Because sometimes, we need that moment and spot of weakness to know how strong God is. We need to sometimes be reminded of how weak we are, to know how strong He is.

When we see what we can’t do, we are reminded about what He can do. When we see that efforts are enough, we see that His are more than enough.

In our weakness, His grace is made perfect.

His grace is enough. For you. Today. No matter what you are going though. No matter what your weakness. No matter what your pain. No matter what is happening. His grace is enough. For you. Today.

Rest in His grace. Rest in His mercy. Rest in His life. Rest in His hope. Rest in His strength. It is enough for you.

Even in your weakness, in your hurts, in your frailties. God is enough for you. Know that. Live that. Believe that.