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December 22, 2016 |
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26 (NIV)
We all have them. Weak places. Places inside that make us wonder if we’ll ever get it together like those “together people.” Places that make us feel less than. Less than victorious. Less than a conqueror. Less than strong.
My weak places frustrate me. And yet I refuse to resign that I can’t ever change.
With the power of Christ, all things can be made new. All broken things are subject to restoration. But sometimes I get so tired of trying and I just feel weak. Can you relate?
Let this verse breathe a little life into your weakness today. Whatever it is, however large it may loom:
“… the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26b).
We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t have to make suggestions to God. It’s okay to be so tired of our weak places that we run out of words to pray.
Look at the beautiful verses written to us Jesus girls tucked around Romans 8:26 about weak places …
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1, NIV).
“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit …” (Romans 8:9a, NIV).
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b, NIV).
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NIV).
Maybe we need to sit still for just a moment or two today. Quietly sit without the weight of condemnation or the swirl of trying to figure things out. Quiet, with nothing but the absolute assurance the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
He understands our weak places. He knows what to pray. There is a purpose to this weakness. Though it doesn’t feel good, things will be worked out in a way that good will come from it (which Romans 8:28 reminds us).
In that quiet stillness while the Spirit prays for us and we just simply soak in truth, there will be a flicker of light. A slight trickle of hope. A grace so unimaginable, we’ll feel His power overshadowing our weakness.
Even the smallest drop of God’s strength is more than enough to cover our frailties, our shortcomings, the places where we deem ourselves weak. So we’ll reject that title.
We aren’t weak. We are dependent.
Dependent on the only One powerful enough to help us. The only One sufficient enough to cover us in grace throughout the process.
Our relationships are not sufficient. Our circumstances are not sufficient. Our finances are not sufficient. Our willpower is not sufficient. Our confidence is not sufficient. But He is and has been and forever will be.
Dear Lord, I know I am nothing without You. I want Your strength to be present in every area of my life. Thank You for hearing the pleas of my heart even when I don’t have the words to express how I feel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
>2 Corinthians 12:9, “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.” (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Do you long to trade feelings of emptiness and depletion for a more personal fulfillment from knowing who Jesus is? Join us as we learn more about finding our sufficiency in Christ in our free Online Bible Study of Lysa TerKeurst’s study, Finding I AM: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart. The study begins January 23, but you can sign up today.
Get the most out of the study by purchasing your copy of Finding I AM here.
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
What is one of your weak places? Spend some time in prayer surrendering that area to the Lord and asking Him to be your strength.
Choose one of the verses from this devotion to memorize. Let it be encouragement to your heart on the days you feel particularly weak.
© 2016 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org