A THORN IN THE FLESH
Father, please give understanding to all who desire to know the True and Living God, thank you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
First, I would like to tell you how amazing God is. I don’t know how many times when I have felt like all is lost how God always provides reason to be encouraged. There is a song that says, “After you’ve done all you can you just stand.” For me this implies putting God first (praying, fasting, etc.) and whatever else he has called for us to do (as Christians whether in or outside of the workplace we must do our best – put our best foot forward – “Leave it all on the field’ – AKA ‘Do the best you can’). If you put God first and employ these things you will see (experience the faithfulness of God!
The good thing is that whether after doing these things and you find that you are under the attack of the enemy (the Devil, demons, evil people) or maybe you have in some way messed up, all you have to do is truly repent (turn away from sin), ask God to forgive you, live for him, and he will bring victory even out of defeat. He’ll “Make a way where there seems to be no way.” https://youtu.be/Kp-XfPtsReI
PLEASE SEE THE APOSTLE PAUL’S EXPERIENCE:
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh
12 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I[a] was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up[b] to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:1-10 NLT).
BE ENCOURAGED!
EVEN IF YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH YOUR CHILDREN YOU CAN SEEK GOD BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS:
God created Adam and Eve and look what they did. See Genesis Chapters 1 – 3.
AND LOOK AT SAMUEL, A RIGHTEOUS MAN OF GOD:
He walked so closely with God that, “He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19). This means that everything he was led by the Holy Spirit to speak came to pass. “But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice” ( 1 Samuel 8:3).
We are or all have all been prodigal sons and daughters at some point in our lives. So this applies to both or children and ourselves:
The Parable of the Lost Son
“Jesus continued:
“There was a man who had two sons.A) 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’B) So he divided his propertyC) between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealthD) in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.E) 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinnedF) against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.G)
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.H) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robeI) and put it on him. Put a ring on his fingerJ) and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Bring the best robeI) and put it on him. Put a ring on his fingerJ) and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;K) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.L)
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angryM) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your propertyN) with prostitutesO) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:11-32 NIV).
Remember that whatever scenario in life we find ourselves in God can fix it! So, be ENCOURAGED! I LOVE YOU WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST!
Remember, no matter what it looks like in the natural or how long it takes to see a turn around, to stay faithful to God, continue to trust him, and let him work out the details.