2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size-abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

I have to begin this paper with praise- praise for our Lord who loves us more than we can understand. I praise Him for His faithfulness to us. He never gives up on us. Truly, grace doesn't paint over our sins and flaws; it changes us from deep within. That's what a walk with Him is all about -being under construction of the Master. He's the potter, we're the clay..

The awesome thing about it is that He loves us as we are but is devoted to changing us into a far greater glory than we can imagine. We are to look like Him, talk like Him, and move in His power. Nothing He requires of us is for naught. He is preparing us for the good thing He is about to do in our lives. He wants us to crave Him, depend on Him, love Him, and trust He will sustain us.

He wants us to know he is in control of our lives and will put us where He wants us at the right time. Our obedience and submission is required. Our prayer should be as it was with Moses, "If Your Presence is not with me than I cannot go."

Truly goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our lives and we can dwell with Him. We have the privilege of walking and talking with Him every moment of the day; learning from Him as we go hand in hand with Him.

God is using the struggles, difficulties, pain, and habits, to transform us. With my struggle with eating, He is teaching me to listen carefully for Him moment by moment, day by day so I will learn to do that in everything I do in His name. It's so easy to move out in our own strength or what we know intellectually rather than what His Spirit is saying.

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not into your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He shall direct your paths."

Knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord and is therefore godly knowledge that always includes Him as the primary factor. Because of the divine source it comes with understanding implied in it. God's Word is a source of His knowledge.

"Lean not" - do not "support yourself"
"Acknowledge" - being fully aware of and in fellowship with Him
"Direct" - straighten out the path of His devoted, trusting servant
"Ways" - mode of action - specifically opportunities a person may encounter on a regular basis

Intimacy with God in prayer (constantly in communion) birth "blessings" and "victories".

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Call - loudly, call upon the Lord and His Name - discern specific issues from His perspective - gives revelation insight that we need to prayffectively.

"Mighty" - inaccessible

Psalm: 5:1-3
Give ear to my words Lord,
Consider my meditation (groaning)
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it toYou,
And I will look up.

"Direct"- meaning petition to God on a daily basis
"Look up"- wait expectantly

Acts 5:31-34 Spoke with boldness - a divine enablement exhibiting spirit power and authority.

James 5:13-16 Any praying when energized by Holy Spirit causes things to happen.

Jeremiah 29:11 - 14 A quest for God that includes a level of intensity beyond what might be termed ordinary prayer - an earnestness that border on desperation.

Ezra 8:21-23 Purpose of fast is to seek God for breakthrough.

Mark 11:20-24 "faith" - inward confidence that assures, trust, and reliance in God and all He says.

Psalm 126:5,6 Tears and brokenness in victorious warfare.

1. Sorrow - 2 Kings 20:5
2. Joy - Genesis 33:4
3. Compassion - John 11:35
4. Desperation - Esther 4:1,3
5. Travail - Isaiah. 42:14
6. Repentance - Joel 2:12,13

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