“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." Matthew 5:3 (MSG)
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.8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT)
I don't know about you, but I have been at the end of my rope a time or two. With three kids, two dogs, all the laundry that goes along with a family of 5 (laundry is my nemesis), homeschooling, my graphic design business, housework ( did I mention that I hate laundry), and the business of living life, things get stressful and hectic. I will be the first to admit that I have a great many weaknesses. I am probably the most unorganized person, just the word "structure" makes me want to run and hide. I am a big picture person, so I tend to miss details. I hate directions, I just want to figure things out my own way. I have struggled with my temper since I was a kid, and now it rears it's ugly head most often in the direction of my children. I can be impatient at times. I love people and having conversations, but I am so incredibly awkward at starting conversations and building relationships. I am a contradiction to myself, I am an incredibly introverted-extrovert. I have prayed and begged the Lord to remove these weaknesses from me, and I believe that he is slowly chipping away at me, molding and shaping me into the perfect vessel for Him. However, God is not limited by my weaknesses, in fact is the opposite. When I move aside it gives God room to work through me! When I turn to Him and allow Him to take control in those areas of weakness, that is where He can show His power the most. I know that there are things that I could not have accomplished on my own, they were clearly accomplished by God's power at work in me, so I can give him the credit and the glory. Without weakness I would be so tempted to boast about myself and my accomplishments.
When I ask God to make me better, or stronger, He responds by saying "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." In other words, it's not me who needs to be stronger or better. I need to stop focusing on myself.
There is a great song out on the radio right now called More of You by Colton Dixon the chorus goes like this :
More of You
Less of me
Make me who I'm meant to be
You're all I want all I need
You're everything
Take it all I surrender
Be my king
God I choose
More of You
Less of me
I am making that my prayer today. God is enough, all I need to do is move my plans and my pride aside so that God can accomplish His plans for His glory. As we know from The Perfect Way, God's plans are always going to be better anyway.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10 NLT)
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.8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT)
I don't know about you, but I have been at the end of my rope a time or two. With three kids, two dogs, all the laundry that goes along with a family of 5 (laundry is my nemesis), homeschooling, my graphic design business, housework ( did I mention that I hate laundry), and the business of living life, things get stressful and hectic. I will be the first to admit that I have a great many weaknesses. I am probably the most unorganized person, just the word "structure" makes me want to run and hide. I am a big picture person, so I tend to miss details. I hate directions, I just want to figure things out my own way. I have struggled with my temper since I was a kid, and now it rears it's ugly head most often in the direction of my children. I can be impatient at times. I love people and having conversations, but I am so incredibly awkward at starting conversations and building relationships. I am a contradiction to myself, I am an incredibly introverted-extrovert. I have prayed and begged the Lord to remove these weaknesses from me, and I believe that he is slowly chipping away at me, molding and shaping me into the perfect vessel for Him. However, God is not limited by my weaknesses, in fact is the opposite. When I move aside it gives God room to work through me! When I turn to Him and allow Him to take control in those areas of weakness, that is where He can show His power the most. I know that there are things that I could not have accomplished on my own, they were clearly accomplished by God's power at work in me, so I can give him the credit and the glory. Without weakness I would be so tempted to boast about myself and my accomplishments.
When I ask God to make me better, or stronger, He responds by saying "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." In other words, it's not me who needs to be stronger or better. I need to stop focusing on myself.
There is a great song out on the radio right now called More of You by Colton Dixon the chorus goes like this :
More of You
Less of me
Make me who I'm meant to be
You're all I want all I need
You're everything
Take it all I surrender
Be my king
God I choose
More of You
Less of me
I am making that my prayer today. God is enough, all I need to do is move my plans and my pride aside so that God can accomplish His plans for His glory. As we know from The Perfect Way, God's plans are always going to be better anyway.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10 NLT)