Acknowledging Our Weakness by Charles R. Swindoll

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. —2 Corinthians 13:4

Our Father, we all struggle with weakness. We're reminded almost every day that we don't have it all together. We need You. We have heartaches and disappointments that haven't gone away . . . the grief of broken relationships, illnesses, and recent deaths. We invite You to enter in, Lord. Enter into all of that on our behalf. Through Your presence may we find relief and release from that which has bound us, tied us up within. We're able to take only so much, and sometimes we come to a virtual breaking point. In our times of physical and emotional weakness, we need Your comfort and Your strength.

We are also stalked by sin. We need Your grace. Sin has taken a terrible toll on the human condition. And though we are well-versed in every possible way of ignoring it or explaining it away, today we come to terms with it. Surely we have failed or fallen in some area just this week, and the ache of that nags us and troubles us—some needless words, some outburst of anger, some lingering resentment, or some caustic response. Lord, thank You for the blood of Christ that keeps on cleansing us from all sins, including these. Forgive us, our Father. Remove from us the enemy's desire to make us ashamed and to drag us under the load of that failure. May we remember that in Your grace You not only forgive, You wipe the slate clean. Thank You that You know our weakness and love us nevertheless.

In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

See also Romans 8:26 ; 15:1 ; 1 Corinthians 1:25 ; Hebrews 4:15.

Soldiers for Christ – Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 2:1-4

Today's passage is from Paul's letter to Timothy. The apostle encourages the young man—and, by extension, every believer—to face difficulty as a good soldier. The military term "soldier" implies that we are in a battle. And in fact, the combat started before Adam and Eve's lifetime.

We see the first evidence when almighty God, who had created all the celestial beings, nevertheless allowed Satan and other angels (thereafter known as "demons") to rebel against Him. They established their own kingdom and waged war with the Lord.

Later we see this strife extend to all humankind. In the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to violate God's command by eating forbidden fruit. Her disobedience corrupted mankind's innocence, and ever since, all human beings have been born with a nature bent away from the Lord—and with a profound need for a Savior.

Tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus modeled how to be victorious in spiritual conflict: by means of Scripture. God's Word gives us everything we need to win—from offensive and defensive weapons (Eph. 6:10-17) to the proper perspective on our adversaries' real identity: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the . . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (v. 12).

When we see ungodliness in our society, the Enemy may at times seem to be winning. Yet we who are saved have assurance that we belong to Him who is greater—and who will have the final victory (1 John 4:4; John 16:33). View daily battles biblically and look to God, who is mightier than all evil.

Overcoming Obstacles – Dr. Charles Stanley

“Doubt breeds distress but trust means joy in the long run. “
Charles Spurgeon

Joshua 6:1-5

The Lord has a beautiful plan for each believer’s life. But to thwart God’s purposes, Satan sprinkles obstacles in our path.

There are many types of hindrances, such as a difficult boss, contrary family members, and financial trouble. Anything that blocks a desired goal can cause anxiety and great frustration. But remember that no obstacle can touch you without God’s consent.

Consider Joshua’s army, which was no match for Jericho’s military. And the great wall protecting that city was an impossible barrier to cross. Yet God had promised the Israelites the land, and Joshua believed. He wasn’t fazed by what seemed unconquerable. Instead, he acknowledged the Lord’s power and sought His guidance.

Before Joshua even realized that God was at work, the Lord was preparing the city for destruction by instilling fear into kings throughout the region. Heaven’s directions included an unlikely battle plan, but because Joshua obeyed, God’s people triumphed.

Waiting can be difficult. And after a while, we might even begin to wonder if God will do anything at all—then it is easy to quit. But, as was true with Joshua, God has gone before us and is preparing the way. No matter how He chooses to handle the problem, His solution is always in our best interest.

Whenever you face an obstacle, you may experience great heartache. But even in the midst of pain, you can have full confidence in God. The most important part of each day is the time you spend alone with the Lord. He will encourage you with His love and give direction

Jehovah-Jireh – By Dr. David Jeremiah

And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide...
Genesis 22:14

Recommended Reading Genesis 22:8-14

Sometimes we use the phrase, "The Lord will provide," to comfort someone in need. Perhaps no one in the history of mankind understood the Lord's provision better than Abraham. His test of offering his son as a sacrifice to God rips into the heart of every one of us. Abraham knew in his head that God provided for him. But did his heart believe it? God wanted Abraham to know.

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Abraham continued to believe God, though he must have been in a state of complete bewilderment. At great cost to himself, this obedient servant chose to worship God by placing the situation completely in his Provider's hands. Instead of breaking him, the test took this patriarch to the summit of his walk with God. "Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram [the substitute sacrifice]...And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide..." (Genesis 22:13-14). In Hebrew, this location is named Jehovah-Jireh.

Maybe you're needing to experience the Lord's provision today--a longed for answer to prayer, a job, healing. Remember Abraham and his place of Jehovah-Jireh. And as you're waiting, make sure you've surrendered your will to God by faithfully obeying Him. Now wait with expectation for His provision!

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.
Oswald Chambers

1 John 2:15-17 – John North

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

We are naturally drawn to the things that do not last!

“The lust of the flesh”(desire for physical pleasure), “the lust of the eyes” (desire for things we see) and “the boastful pride of life” (the desire to be right, to be popular, to be in control, to be important) — these things come very naturally to us, don’t they?

If that’s so, then we have to take the initiative if we want to live for things that matter. The fact is that we drift towards these meaningless things and we have to purposefully set our minds and hearts on “the love of the Father”. We have to actively decide each moment to live for God.

What is there that you focus on in your life that will make a difference forever? Prayer, time with God in His word, sharing Christ with others, encouraging people, helping those in need. Set your love on what will last.

GOD-SENT CHRISTIANS – Dr. Neil Andeson

1 Corinthians 6:20

You have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body

If I were asked to determine the spiritual vitality of any religious group using only one criterion, I would evaluate its representative leaders. Are they a group of individuals vying for power, arming themselves with arguments to defend their position and exert their will? Or are they servant leaders knit together by the Holy Spirit who are collectively trying to discern God's will?

Similarly, if I wanted to determine the spiritual vitality of an individual using only one criterion, I would evaluate whether the person desires to live according to the will of God, or if he desires to do his own thing. The prayer of a vital, growing Christian is, "Make me know Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths" (Psalm 25:4).

Once our will is bent in the right direction, Jesus raises the additional question of motive: "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (John 7:18). The person who is true glorifies the one who sent him.

This is perfectly modeled in the Godhead. Notice first the example of Jesus: "For I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me" (John 8:42). The Holy Spirit acts in the same way. In John 16:13, 14, Jesus said, "He [the Spirit] will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak. . . . He shall glorify Me."

I can take this one step further. Are you ready for this? Jesus said in John 20:21: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." Granted, that was said to the apostles, but we are all under the Great Commission. Do you want to be true? Then glorify the One who sent you! People who know they are God-sent and are committed to live like that, glorify God. Self-sent people seek their own glory.

Prayer: Today, Lord, I purpose to reflect my appointment as Your sent-one by glorifying You instead of myself

OUR ACCESS TO CHRIST'S AUTHORITY – Dr. Neil Anderson

Ephesians 1:18

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened

Do we enjoy the same claim to Christ's authority in the spiritual realm as those who were personally sent out by Him? Absolutely! In fact, because of the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we have an even greater advantage in spiritual warfare than the first disciples did. They were with Christ (Mark 3:14, 15), but we are in Christ. That was Paul's great news in the opening lines of his letter to the church at Ephesus. Ten times in the first 13 verses he reminded us that everything we have is the result of our intimate, personal relationship with the resurrected Christ and His indwelling Spirit.

Having firmly established the reality of our position in Christ, Paul expressed his heart's desire for Spirit-filled believers in this prayer:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:18-20).

Our problem with identity and self-perception as Christians is not that we aren't in Christ; it's that we don't see it or perceive it; we're just not conscious of it. We are not supposed to pursue power because we already have it in Christ. We are to pursue truth and pray that our eyes will be opened to our rich inheritance in Christ.

As long as we fail to perceive our access to Christ's authority over the kingdom of darkness, we will fail to exercise that authority in our lives, and we may live in bondage.

Prayer: Open my eyes, Lord; I want to see Jesus. Open my ears and help me listen, abide in You, and draw strength moment by moment.

AUTHORITY AND POWER – Dr. Neil Anderson

Luke 9:1

He [Jesus] called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons

Jesus gave His disciples both authority and power over demons. What's the difference? Authority is the right to rule; it's a positional issue. A policeman has the right to stop traffic at an intersection because of the position of authority represented by his badge. Similarly, Jesus gave His disciples His badge to carry. They had the right to rule over the demons because of their position as followers of the One to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given (Matthew 28:18).

In contrast, power is the ability to rule. A policeman may have the authority to stop traffic, but he doesn't have the physical ability to do so. If he tries to stop traffic by his own power, he will probably get run over. However, if you move a 20-foot-square cement block into the middle of the intersection, it may not have any authority to make cars stop, but it certainly has the ability to do so!

No good manager would delegate responsibility to his underlings without also delegating authority to them and equipping them with the ability to get the job done. Jesus charged His disciples with the responsibility to proclaim the kingdom of God. Had He not also given them authority and power in the spirit world, the demons would have just scoffed at their feeble attempts and sent them running for cover (as they did the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19).

The truth is that, while in yourself you don't have the ability to resist Satan and his demons, in Christ you do . The Israelites looked at Goliath fearfully and said, "We can't fight him." But young David looked at Goliath and said, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26). The army saw Goliath in relation to themselves and trembled; David saw Goliath in relation to God and triumphed. When you encounter the spiritual enemies of your soul, remember: "Be strong in the Lord [your authority], and in the strength of His might [your power]" (Ephesians 6:10).

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for Your authority and power. Help me view my circumstances in light of what You can do, not according to what I can't do.