A Thorn in Your Flesh
There is something that I’ve dealt with for decades. After becoming a follower of Jesus, I’ve asked repeatedly to have that removed. I don’t want to deal with it anymore. I’m at the point where I pray to God for strength daily so that I do not succumb to this particular issue. This works. I don’t even think about it. In my study today, I came across Paul’s “thorn in his flesh”. I’d read this passage numerous times without really understanding it. This morning, I finally got my “A-ha!” moment. A thorn in your flesh keeps you humble and exalts God. My strength in this area comes solely from God. If I do not pray about it, I’m stuck dealing with it on my own.
7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 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: 7-10
I’d rather not have a thorn in my flesh, but I do understand the significance of it and I’m grateful to God for this understanding. No longer will I ask God “why must I deal with this?” Instead, I will thank Him and exalt Him for giving me the strength to overcome something that has bothered me for years. When I pray about it, it doesn’t even come to mind.
God’s Grace
God’s grace sustains me and it will sustain you. Rather than live in fear and uncertainty, you can rest in God’s strength, protection, and love. You do not have to rely on your own strength, sometimes it isn’t enough. In my particular situation, it isn’t. A thorn in your flesh is a way to see the power of God.
Paul described his thorn as a “messenger of Satan”. However, it leads him to exalt God daily. In the same way, you can use the thorn in your side, whatever it may be, to get closer to God. Use it to seek Him daily and see His miracles. It took me years to understand this. However, I see a miracle daily, because whenever I seek God about this, it becomes a non-issue for me.
Every. Single. Time!
Daily Miracles
Praise God the most High! I will exalt His name and humble myself before Him. Seek God daily about the thorn in your flesh. Expect to see a miracle every day and you will.
Have a blessed and prosperous week.
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