Thursday, September 16, 2010

Truth for Thursday

I am continuing “Truth for Thursday” here at Being Refined As Silver.  We are on the last chapter of “Lies Women Believe”, chapter 11: “The Truth That Sets Us Free”.  It will take several weeks to review this chapter, so I hope you will continue to come back each week. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss encourages her readers to take time to savor these liberating, life-changing truths.  She suggests saying each Truth aloud, again and again until your thinking becomes aligned with God’s way of thinking. 

Here is the seventh truth:

God’s grace is sufficient for me.

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

God’s grace is sufficient for whatever it is we are facing, whether past, present or future.  Right before these verses Paul writes about the thorn in his flesh.  We don’t know exactly what that thorn was, but he does write that it was “a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (verse 7).  We also know that he pleaded with the Lord three times for it to be removed (verse 8).  God answered him as recorded in verses 9 and 10. 

God does answer prayer.  He doesn’t always answer in the way that we would like, but rather in the best way.  He didn’t remove the thorn in Paul’s flesh.  He gave him strength and encouragement to endure.  Sometimes we are in the midst of a trial and want so badly to be out of it that we miss the opportunities to learn and grow along the way.  Instead of focusing so much on wanting the trial to go away we can learn how to be strong in the Lord.  To rely on His grace and not our own strength to see us through.  We can glorify God in the midst of our trials.  We can determine that we are going to serve Him regardless of what is going on around us.  His grace is sufficient!

What weakness are you struggling with today?  Don’t try to endure it in your own strength.  Trust God’s grace to perfect you. 

~Theresa

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10 comments:

  1. Excellent post, Theresa! Gosh, if I didn't have God's grace, I know I could manage nothing in my life. Thanks for sharing. Happy Thursday, my bloggy friend. :o) Larri at Seams Inspired

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  2. My sweet sister... this is exactly what I needed to hear today! My thorn is two-fold. Finances & poop!

    We were supposed to close on our house yesterday - NOPE! Didn't happen. Our TX house has been on the market for 18 months! So financially draining!

    Then... my son's potty training is really getting the best of my spirit.

    Thanks for these great words! I know I can handle both of these in His strength!

    love ya friend!
    pen

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  3. I needed this reminder today! :) Thank you!

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  4. Oh this is so true! I vlogged about this today! God is so glorified through our weaknesses, what a comfort. p.s. I am loving your giveaways!!

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  5. What a wonderful reminder that we NEED God's grace!! It is so important!!
    Jessica

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  6. Oh how easily we sometimes think that we can just manage on our own?!?

    I find that it of course is always better to just lay it all on HIM.

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  7. I say amen, I too needed this today, and God always gives us what we need, when we are open to his leading, Hugs Barbara

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  8. Hi Theresa! I just joined the GMG's group! I wanted to visit everyone's blogs... I am really enjoying getting to know everyone! This post is so insightful! I had similar feelings one day when dealing with an issue with my daughter and John 18:11 jumped out me! I need to learn to put my sword away, quit fighting God's will and drink from the cup He has given me!!!! God Bless!

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  9. Oh...not enough room to put what I am struggling with...LOL
    Each of these posts have just reminded me over and over again how I need to speak the truth out loud to myself...I have been trying to do that on my morning walk.
    I think I feel sometimes He has put too much on me at one time, then I realize that if I feel it is too much than that is when I am to rely on His strength and not mine! Sometimes a very hard lesson to totally grasp...being a take charge, go get it done, first born that I am.
    Thanks!!!!

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Thank you for visiting. Please let me know you stopped by so I can be sure to come visit you. ~Theresa