25 Oct November 27th Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Read 2 Corinthians 11:1 through 12:8.  Paul’s life as an Apostle and missionary was not an easy one.  His relationship with the Corinthians was a real struggle.  His personal life and health also were not good.  This section is a good one to read when you feel your life is in the pits.

In today’s devotional verse St. Paul lays out how he was able to deal with the many, many challenges in his life and ministry.  He had prayed God for relief and specifically regarding his physical ailment.  To his prayers God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  And, it was!  Note the next words, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

What is happening in your life at this moment?  What are your struggles?  What challenges are you facing?  Today’s verses are just for these occasions in your life, aren’t they?  God’s grace is for you as it was for St. Paul.  It is sufficient, powerful, faith strengthening. . .  In fact, isn’t it true that the greater the challenges in your life are the more fervent you are in your prayer life?  There are simply times in your life when God brings you down on your knees that you will better look up to the cross of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  What Jesus did for you on His cross is more than sufficient to assure you of His total love for you.

Read and meditate upon the words of Romans 8:37-39 whenever you are in your pit: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our (MY) Lord.”

Prayer:  Pour out Your grace upon me, O Lord, especially when I am wrestling with life’s challenges.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

O God, forsake me not! Your gracious presence lend me;

Lord, lead Your helpless child; Your Holy Spirit send me

That I my course may run. O be my light, my lot,

My staff, my rock, my shield— O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not! Take not Your Spirit from me;

Do not permit the might Of sin to overcome me.

Increase my feeble  faith, Which You alone have wrought.

O be my strength and pow’r— O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not! Lord, hear my supplication!

In ev’ry evil hour Help me resist temptation;

And when the prince of hell My conscience seeks to blot,

Be then not far from me— O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not! Lord, I am Yours forever.

O keep me strong in faith that I may leave You never.

Grant me a blessed end When my good fight is fought;

Help me in life and death— O God, forsake me not!

(LSB 731)