2 Corinthians 12:9-10: The Mystery of Power
Thursday, June 17, 2022
The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness”. I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
How many of us can say that we are content with the obstacles and restrictions that curb our will? How often have we been content to live out God’s plan rather than our own? And how open are we to the power and mystery of grace in our lives?
God says: I know that you want to please me and this desire fills me with joy. I delight in your willingness to follow and believe that I have your own joy in mind every moment of each day and night. So often you see my love as a restriction or punishment and this is not so. My love wants to liberate you from all fear and foreboding. My grace is a gift that fills you with the ability to trust me. It is a gift you cannot earn, a mystery you cannot understand; but this does not worry me . . . and it ought not worry you. My love is able to bring joy from grief, gladness from anxiety and goodness from harm. All I ask is your fidelity and love. All you need is my strength in your weakness. Think about this inversion today and see if you can come to a full understanding of this upside-down view of the world.
And so we pray:
When we look for signs of God’s grace in our weakness we become strong.
When we discover signs of God’s hope in our fears we become courageous.
When we find compassion in God’s plan we become merciful.
When we nurture seeds of humility in our pride we become loving.
When we discern opportunities for transformation in our suffering we become wise.
When we treasure your justice in the deepest of grievances in our pain we become your presence to the world.
Give us your strength in our weakness today and all days. Amen.
Image from: http://www.conversiondiary.com/2010/12/weakness-strength-and-the-end-of-self.html
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