Burdened Beyond Our Strength
Scripture: II Corinthians 1:8-9 (NASB) - For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction… indeed we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead…”
The Apostle Paul often voiced familiarity with today’s scriptural focus. So did Mark the Apostle in the gospel bearing his name ( See Mark 9:17-29). For many of us our unspoken mindset during the day is frequently, ‘I got this, LORD!’ Some of us become haphazard about our quiet time and launch into the day floating on a “mental current of self-reliance.” While many today mock the notion of trusting in Jesus, temptations to stress, mild to severe depression, physical illness, and a host of other adversities are not limited to those who spurn the gospel. Today’s verse reminds us that dependency upon the LORD is commanded by those professing to know Him. It’s a command that we should never resist nor pridefully dismiss.
Scripture teaches us that dependency on the Lord is tantamount to power! (See Zechariah 4:6; Acts 1:8). How contrary that is to the secular mentality! Inasmuch as word meditation is to your spirit and what physical exercise is to your body, let’s apply that old cultural axiom of “act like you know” and revitalize our dependence upon the Holy Spirit before we start our day by meditating on such encouraging verses as Prov. 3:5, 6, Ps. 39:7, Ps. 71:3-5, Isaiah 26:4, and many, many others. If you’ve never done so, try writing on 3 x 5 cards some key promises of God that speak peace to your spirit for specific situations which you confront daily; better yet, commit them to memory! Pray those verses in a personalized way back to the Lord, and see how He will strengthen you to endure when you’re in the crucible of daily or even seasonal life challenges.
Prayer: Precious Lord, please forgive us for failing to trust You as completely and consistently as we’ve been invited to do every day, in every circumstance, by virtue of our relationship to You through the completed redemptive work of Christ Jesus on the cross. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)
The Apostle Paul often voiced familiarity with today’s scriptural focus. So did Mark the Apostle in the gospel bearing his name ( See Mark 9:17-29). For many of us our unspoken mindset during the day is frequently, ‘I got this, LORD!’ Some of us become haphazard about our quiet time and launch into the day floating on a “mental current of self-reliance.” While many today mock the notion of trusting in Jesus, temptations to stress, mild to severe depression, physical illness, and a host of other adversities are not limited to those who spurn the gospel. Today’s verse reminds us that dependency upon the LORD is commanded by those professing to know Him. It’s a command that we should never resist nor pridefully dismiss.
Scripture teaches us that dependency on the Lord is tantamount to power! (See Zechariah 4:6; Acts 1:8). How contrary that is to the secular mentality! Inasmuch as word meditation is to your spirit and what physical exercise is to your body, let’s apply that old cultural axiom of “act like you know” and revitalize our dependence upon the Holy Spirit before we start our day by meditating on such encouraging verses as Prov. 3:5, 6, Ps. 39:7, Ps. 71:3-5, Isaiah 26:4, and many, many others. If you’ve never done so, try writing on 3 x 5 cards some key promises of God that speak peace to your spirit for specific situations which you confront daily; better yet, commit them to memory! Pray those verses in a personalized way back to the Lord, and see how He will strengthen you to endure when you’re in the crucible of daily or even seasonal life challenges.
Prayer: Precious Lord, please forgive us for failing to trust You as completely and consistently as we’ve been invited to do every day, in every circumstance, by virtue of our relationship to You through the completed redemptive work of Christ Jesus on the cross. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
9 Comments
Amen. We can depend on God. His Mercy endures, and His ever reaching Grace is sufficient. Blessings in His Name!
Amen Sis. Thank you!
Amen sis!
Yes Lord make me weak that your strength is made perfect.
Amen Sister! Wonderful Devontion...
Amen, Sister Denise , Thank you for the challenge
Amen! So true. Such a powerful message in your devotion. When I am weak, then He is strong. Bless His Name!
Correction: When I am weak, then I am strong.
Amen Sis. Denise! So many days I have rode that mental current of self reliance (I like that) and realized I can't succeed w/o God. Thank u for this reminder of how important it is the lean on and trust God.