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Divine Strength
Andrea Lende • December 8, 2020
II Corinthians 12:10
Divine Strength
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Divine-Strength-engk80
II Corinthians 12:10
“So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).”
Perspective.
It’s all in perspective.
It is easy to complain about normal things such as doing the dishes.
But if I think about people suffering lack – lack of food and shelter – then I am thankful to have the opportunity to do the dishes because that means I have had food to eat.
It is easy to complain about doing laundry.
But if I remember I am fortunate enough to have multiple changes of clothes, my mind turns to a spirit of thankfulness.
Paul gives us a different perspective about physical pain, being insulted, and enduring hardships and difficulties.
When we do not have any more strength remaining inside us.
When we are completely spent.
When there is nothing more we can do, the Lord steps in.
He strengthens us.
He does the miraculous.
And we know it was God because the Lord melted our difficulties away.
The pain turned painless.
The uncomfortable became comfortable.
Only God can do what He can do.
And sometimes He waits for us to get to the end of ourselves before He steps in and saves us.
All for the glory of God.
If I could only remember to be joyful in my distress.
Paul says, he takes pleasure in his infirmities because he knows he is being set up for a miracle of divine strength.
Again, it’s all in our perspective.
It is beneficial to keep a watchful eye and remain hopeful in the storm knowing the Lord’s divine strength will come upon us.
Today as I come to the end of myself, my energy, and my pain I will expectantly look to the Lord and He will give me divine strength.
May you rejoice in knowing the Lord is close by to help you deal with every difficulty in your life.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me of Your divine strength. Thank You for reminding me that as I come to the end of myself You are beside me. You are standing by to strengthen me. You are priming me for a miracle when I get in too deep, or when I experience too much pain, or when the difficulties are too great for me to handle on my own. You are my strength. You are a God of miracles and You desire to help me in every way. Thank You, Father, for caring about me and taking care of me. Thank You for showing me I should be thankful even inside of the difficulties I face because that is where I find You. Thank You for keeping a watchful eye on me. Thank You for protecting me and keeping me close to You. I praise Your name! I praise Your holy name, Lord! You are great and mighty and greatly to be praised. Keep my heart soft toward You so I worship You for eternity. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you, My child, and I will always take care of you.
Response: Thank You, Almighty God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.