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The Thorn

  • By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7 WEB

    The great Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, had what he called a thorn in the flesh. He does not say exactly what it was. It may have been lust, a critical spirit, migraine headaches, or possibly bad eyes (Galatians 4:15). Whatever it was, it bothered him and he wanted to be free of it. Paul asked the Lord three times to take the thorn away, but the Lord told him 'My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness.' So Paul continued to minister, and the thorn remained there.

    The grace of God is like oil that smooths the gears of life. It makes things fall into place. It can make you be at the right place, at the right time, knowing all the right answers. When the Lord herded me into my own computer repair business, it seemed like they almost fixed themselves. Often when I touched them, they suddenly started working correctly, or the problem revealed itself.

    Later, when the Lord decided to put me in the ministry, the computer business dried completely up and it became a living nightmare. It seemed like trivial things like installing a hard disk could take a whole day, where it used to take minutes. The grace was gone, and it was time to move on. Grace can make things seem easy, but when the grace lifts, things become difficult and a grind. He was moving us in a new direction.

    Having problems and thorns in the flesh will not stop God from using you. If you are walking with something today that will not leave, and you cry out to the Lord repeatedly, but it remains there, don't give up. Know that His grace is sufficient to get you through this day, and tomorrow there will be a fresh supply. He will still use the imperfect and weak to show His power, with all their flaws, just as He continued to use Paul.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for Your grace. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Lead me into all that You have for me here, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presences and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress


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28 comments
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

August 29, 2019
  • 2
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen Lord

August 29, 2019
  • 2
Perry Robertson
Perry Robertson

Amen! I do know about those thorns, I have them like most of us, thankfully God knows how much I can stand, His grace is suffcient :)

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Yvette York
Yvette York

Amen

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Rick Doran
Rick Doran

Amen!!!

August 29, 2019
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Jesus we thank you for your Grace,we love and worship you. Amen 

August 29, 2019
  • 2
Theresa Bright
Theresa Bright

Thank you for your words, they are always on time.

August 29, 2019
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! Thank You Lord!

August 29, 2019
  • 2
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Amen! Thank you for this message Pastor Dion :) I know God's grace is sufficient.

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

Amen! He has been giving me new grace for each day I have to go to work in pain. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father I thank you for forgiving my sins, I need Your grace to keep going through life and that my life is pleasing to You. Blessed be Your Holy name forever, in Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

Wonderful devotional, God bless you Pastor. 

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen!!

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Dear Pastor Dion, thank you for this timely message, can you please pray for our daughter? The thorn in our flesh can be a number of things just like you mentioned, however, you really made me think today and see an ongoing heartache as a thorn in my flesh, but not just mine, but my husband's as well, it is a hurt, a pain that doesn't seem to go away! We have a daughter who has made many mistakes, married someone that we knew wasn't God's choice for her, was utterly betrayed, got divorced, has one son, got very very bitter in the process, is unable to move on, forgive and forget as if she had a heart of stone, and consequently has many health problems! We have been praying and praying waiting on the Lord, because there is nothing else left for us to do, but pray!

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza

Prayer sent for your daughter Liesel.  GOD GIVE HER ALL THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO GET ALL THROUGH THIS IN HER LIFE.

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Thank you so much for your love and kindness, Deng, may the Lord bless you and your loved ones !!!

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Sandra Colby
Sandra Colby

LIESEL, I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY NIGHT, WHEN I HAD HEADACHES ,IWENT TO A CHIROPRACTURE,HE TOLD ME ,THE HEADACHE WAS BECAUSE,I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHEN I WAS SMALLER, HE POPED MY NECK 5 OR 6 TIMES AND I HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINCE.                                    SANDRA COLBY

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Dear Sandra, thank you so much for your continuous prayers! May the Lord continue to bless and protect you and your loved ones !!!  Praise the Lord that He helped you by the means of Chiropractics, He is the Great Physician, He is where our help comes from !!! Love you, sister !!!

 

 

August 30, 2019
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Thank u God . Help me God. Amen

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Debbie Bible
Debbie Bible

Inspiring and timely for me. Thank you for this message. 

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Sandra Colby
Sandra Colby

AMEN

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Martin Snyder
Martin Snyderedited: August 29, 2019

I once had a book entitled "The Bumps Are What We Climb On". If the mountain was made smooth as glass, we would keep sliding back to the bottom. I suggest "Through The Fire" by Jason Crabb, curious how He always takes us through the fire, not around it.

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Love the visual of that title, Martin, "The Bumps Are What We Climb On" :)!

August 30, 2019
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Thanks for sharing this, Martin!!! This made me think of the "Pilgrim's Progress", the story about John Bunyan's journey!

August 30, 2019
  • 1
Martin Snyder
Martin Snyderedited: August 29, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giHb6AiQHdQ

Through The Fire

August 29, 2019
  • 1
Dana Rozell
Dana Rozell

Amen!

September 5, 2019