“Stan,” I began one morning, “do you ever find yourself falling into the same old weaknesses that lead you away from God and His will for you?”
“You might as well ask me,” Stan replied, “if I ever find myself breathing!”
Continuing, he added, “Weaknesses are a part of being human, but I’ve found a way to use those weaknesses to strengthen my faith walk with God.”
“Using weakness for strength?” I responded.
“Exactly!” Stan replied. “The apostle Paul addressed this in one of his letters, the second one he wrote to the church in Corinth, but there’s a condition with it.”
“What condition?” I asked.
“That I admit my weaknesses and ask for God’s strength to overcome them, rather than just acknowledging my weaknesses and allowing them to grow stronger.”
“Allow weaknesses to grow stronger?” I replied. “How could that happen?”
“By ignoring the power and strength of God in overcoming them, as well as by allowing those weaknesses to be amplified.”
“What could cause them to be amplified?” I asked.
“Same old stuff,” Stan replied. “Self, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Don’t forget that Satan just loves to get Christians to focus on their weaknesses and, in essence, take them as a fact they can’t do anything about.”
“On the other hand,” he continued, “God in Christ has all of the power and strength I need to overcome all of my weaknesses if I will only have the sense to choose His strength over my weaknesses.”
“Choose God’s strength?” I replied. “If people can choose His strength over their weaknesses, why wouldn’t everyone do that?”
“I think you know the answer to that,” Stan replied.
“Focusing on self, rather than on God,” I responded. “Focusing on what I want to do apart from God, rather than on what God wants. Following what I want to follow apart from God, rather than following His lead. Is that about it?”
“You got it, my friend,” Stan replied.
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And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power in perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 – 9.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for all of your love, grace, and mercy. Thank you for your strength that can overcome my weaknesses. I acknowledge my weaknesses and your strength. I confess that too often I take my weaknesses as a fact, rather than seeking your strength to overcome them. I know that when I do that I am pleasing Satan rather than you. Please forgive that foolishness. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so I will claim your strength to overcome the weaknesses I face in my life. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: We all have weaknesses. Those weaknesses can be overcome by God’s strength. Do you believe that? Why or why not? Who and what do you think encourages us to just live with our weaknesses and try to make the best of them? Who wants us to call upon Him for His strength in every weakness we face, regardless of what it is? Do you have weaknesses that need to be overcome by God’s strength? Ask Him.
Waiting for the Train 