Manna for Your Morning

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! — 2 Corinthians 12:7 (MSG) The challenges we face will keep us in constant touch with our limitations, so that we may learn not to rely on ourselves but on our mighty God. When life tries to get you down, let it push you to your knees. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. (James 5:15 AMP) Call to Him, and He will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! — 2 Corinthians 12:7 (MSG) At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, “ My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. ” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10 MSG)

…a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  — 2 Corinthians 12:7-9a (NKJV)   In the Message Bible the Apostle Paul said, “I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees.” May our limitations drive us to our knees and keep us from becoming proud. When we submit our lives to God, He will fill in the gaps where we fall short. When we can no longer deal with that difficult person or situation, His power and strength enables us to respond like our heavenly Father responds to us, with grace and lovingkindness. Don’t let the painful prick of the thorn distract you from the beauty of the rose, which is all the ...

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. — Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG) Keeping the right perspective in life, is so important. Instead of looking around at the circumstances, let us look up and stay focused on our great God, and all that He is doing in our lives. As we look to Him, with eyes of faith, He comes to our aid. As long as our eyes are fixed on the immediate earthly realities, we stay trapped by the limitations of our humanity. When we look to our heavenly Father, we open ourselves up to His faith filled world of unlimited possibilities. With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) No matter what your current situation may be, never lose sight of the fact that God has a plan a...

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! ( 2 Corinthians 12:7 MSG ). When circumstances try to pull you down, fall to your knees in prayer. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. ( 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 MSG ). May we always appreciate all the gifts (James 1:17) and focus on the Giver of the gifts. Now I take limita...

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” — Exodus 3:14 (NKJV) When God called Moses, he replied, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Whatever God calls us to do, may we remember that it’s not about us, nor our shortcomings. It is all about the great and mighty God we serve. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP), He says, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” His grace enables us to do all that He has called us to do. The hand of the great “I AM” reaches beyond our limitations. Rely on the power of the God who dwells in you, as you go forth to perform His will.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. — 2 Corinthians 12:7b (NLT) The Message translation says, so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. Are you being pricked? So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor (1 Peter 5:6, NLT). And remember what the Lord said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” (2 Corinthians 12:9a, NKJV). His grace (favor, loving-kindness and mercy) is more than enough!

In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.  — Psalm 138:3 (NKJV) Our God is Jehovah Shammah. He is always with us, an ever-present God! Every time we call upon the name of the LORD, He hears and answers. He knows our limitations and He steps in at just the right time and gives us strength. Constantly look to the LORD and put your confidence in Him as the Source of your strength. He makes us bold by giving strength to our souls: mind, will and emotions. With the intervention of our heavenly Father, we can think strong thoughts, we can set our will to follow God's instructions, and we can line our emotions up with the Word of God. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4)!