| “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Paul) Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9 |
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| “THEREFORE MOMENT” THAT CHANGES OUR PERSPECTIVE Being very honest and transparent I will tell you that seeing life from God’s perspective is difficult. When I am going THROUGH IT and by “through it” I mean THROUGH IT, it is hard to understand what God is doing and it is hard to TRUST Him. And I don’t think I am alone in saying there are times it is just hard to have God’s perspective on the circumstances and situations we find ourselves GOING THROUGH IT. The apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 12 that he is GOING THROUGH IT as he tells that starting in verse 7 about receiving a thorn in the flesh. While we don’t know exactly what the thorn in the flesh was (and will not take time to speculate here) we do know it brought much pain and discomfort to Paul and it was to a level that he “pleaded with the Lord THREE times concerning this thing THAT IT might depart from him.” 2 Corinthians 12:8 Now it is very possible for us to think that when the Apostle Paul prayed, he most certainly received what he requested. After all, this is the Apostle Paul! However, the Apostle Paul tells us that God did not grant his request but rather informed him about the perspective he should have as HE IS GOING THROUGH IT. In 2 Corinthians 12:9a Paul wrote that God told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul now has what I like to call a “THEREFORE MOMENT.” The “THEREFORE MOMENT” is a decisive moment. Peter had one when Jesus told him to fish when as a fisherman he knew it was the wrong time to fish. Peter said nevertheless (THEREFORE) at Your Word I will do what You said. (Luke 5:7) Paul’s THEREFORE MOMENT moves him to now embrace what God has him GOING THROUGH with a new perspective, with God’s perspective. He writes, “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Continuing in verse 10 he writes another THEREFORE saying, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” What a change in perspective. Are you GOING THROUGH IT right now? Hear your heavenly Father say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And then have a THEREFORE MOMENT like Paul and embrace that God can do so much more through your weaknesses. Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Paul) Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Continue Strong trusting His perspective during difficult times, And remember to DATE the Word. |