April 12th, 21

What do you really want? Is it comfort, security, pleasure, recognition. Maybe it's something related to your family, maybe you want healing for a child or spouse, for yourself. Paul wanted something too. He wanted it badly. He pleaded for it. He wanted relief. He wanted this "thing" that was bothering him to stop. He called it his thorn in the flesh. And the origins of this thing came from Satan himself, we're told, we're not exactly sure what it was.

But the description seems to cover all the bases, whether it was something spiritual or physical. We all have needs physical and spiritual needs. And we all end up crying out to God, asking him to deliver us, to take that thing, to correct that thing, to heal that thing, whatever that thing is. And we see that Paul was no different. He pleaded and pleaded and continued to plead.

Whatever it was, Paul felt that it was holding him back. This is what Paul really wanted. He saw God delivering and providing and doing miracles that were both spiritual and physical for others. Why didn't God do the same for Paul? Why does he do the same thing for you for me?

Maybe it's because there's something Paul, and you and I need. That's more important than what we want. Paul needed to know the power of grace in his life. God tells Paul, not once, but three times. Grace is what you need. My grace is perfected in your weakness. So Paul, began to treasure even his weaknesses. Because they became a doorway, to the grace, the presence, the love of God, that he needed.

Maybe there's something that we need, that's more important than what we want. And the prayer of my own soul today is that I will have the wisdom, the courage, the grace to receive it. And that's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you may be so.

You are loved!