https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOED1BnUANc
YouTube – What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh?
By – God Questions Ministries (3 min 20 sec)
“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,
for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in
the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting
myself!
“Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it
might leave me. “And He has said to me, ‘My
grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’
“Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses,
with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s
sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:7-10
Assignment
God’s Word is so amazing!
Did you ever wonder what Paul’s ‘thorn’ was? Lots of ideas have been put forward but the
Bible does not tell us. I think this is
so it is easier for us to identify with the idea.
Thorns are all different. Some are long, some short, some different colours. Some are easy to pull out and some stick around for a long time. Some even have little barbs that work their way deeper into us.
Thorns sometimes even have a bit of poison in
them that make us itch or spread pain or weakness throughout our systems, but
so slowly we are rarely aware they are at work within us.
I’m convinced God has allowed each of us at least one ‘thorn’
in our lives…that hurts, that redirects us, that slows us down, that embarrasses
us – some compromise our walk with the Lord and some strengthen our resolve to
serve. With every thorn, God provides
grace to endure.
1.
Set aside an hour and find a place where you
will not be interrupted and where you can watch and listen to the above video.
2.
Bring your Bible, notebook, something to write
with and a refreshment.
3.
Quieten your heart and pray for the Lord to give
you new insight of the value of your thorn(s) and His power to help you endure.
4.
Open your notebook to a fresh page and date it. Then watch the video and as you watch, consider
‘thorns’ in your life and write down key points about thorns to help you
identify your thorn(s).
5.
Review your notes and circle the ‘thorn(s)’ you
have identified. If there is more than
one treat each one separately using the questions below.
NOTE: If you have identified only one that is great. In the future you may identify others.
6.
For each ‘thorn’ answer these questions:
a. When
did you notice the thorn?
b. What
are the negative effects of the thorn?
c. What
are the positive effects of the thorn?
d. How
often does it affect you?
e. Is
it something others could see?
f. Has
anyone ever pointed this thorn out to you?
g. How
has God used this thorn to strengthen your walk and service to Him?
7.
Pray and thank God that He loves you so much, He
has selected the ‘perfect thorn’ for you.
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still
prays for you daily)
PS: Find my statement
of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com
(where you will also find a series of
Bible studies). You can also find the devotions online, just search for
‘WeakDay Devotion’.
There is an android ‘Google
Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone. Not sure about Apple. For the books, go to Amazon
books. For prayer requests and
updates email me: darlenerichard@gmail.com
PRAYER REQUESTS
· Pray for true, Christ-centred
revival in America.
·
Patti and John –
pray God continues to inspire them with His love and compassion, that He will
guard their health. Pray especially for Patti
as she faces an unexpected health challenge and for travelling mercies as she
is now their designated driver. (Joshua 1:6-9).
·
War Against Israel - Pray Israeli forces to locate
and save all 133 remaining hostages. It’s been over 200 days since 7 October when
this began. Pray for the wisdom and
safety of Israeli soldiers, for those who have lost loved ones and for those moving
through enemy territory as they risk their lives to restore peace and purify
the land of all terrorists. Pray also
for the Palestinian people – many are helpless captives of war.
·
Barbara –
beloved widow (of my brother, Tim) thanks you for your prayers. As one of God’s
faithful widows, pray God always protects her, especially at night and during
the violent storms that have swirled around the house. Pray God guards the
structure and integrity of the house and places willing people in her path to
help as she faces a life without Tim.
·
Patrick
- a Bible scholar who, although retired, continues his work as part of an English
Translation Review Committee. They’ve
now completed a new translation of the New Testament, ‘The Antioch Bible’
(translating from Syriac to English) and are beginning working through the Old
Testament. Pray for his health and vigour
and increasing skill in the complicated languages.
·
Denny & Marci
– Marci is a lifetime friend, who also helps me with the WeakDay Devotion
books. She is recovering from internal
shingles. Pray for improved heart health for her husband. Pray for his
patience, the wisdom and skill of his health care providers and for Marci as
she supports him through this time.
·
Junko –Please
pray God quietens her as she applies herself to her studies and that she gets enough
rest.
·
Mitt and his
brother, Eavon – both visited church Easter Sunday. Please pray for them as they strengthen their
walks with the Lord.
·
Yoshimi – Is
enjoying her new job and taking training courses in IT to help her be more
‘marketable’. Pray she is calm, able to
concentrate and remember all she needs to.
She is attending church and reading her Bible. Pray she grows into a deep, personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
·
Lindsey - the youngest daughter
of my dearest friends, Annette and Lyle. Lindsey needs your prayers for healing,
strengthening, patience and pray for the wisdom of her health care providers.
·
Jeff and
Rachael’s family – Peyton (granddaughter) graduated from college Dec
2023. Carter (grandson) is doing great
in his first year in college. Praise God
that both are exceptional students and love the Lord. Pray they are not distracted by worldly
things, that the Lord watches over and protects them, that they continue to do
well as their lives develop under God’s loving hand and that their love of God’s
Word increases daily.
·
David –
son of Grant and Sue that the Lord would draw him closer to the cross.
·
Sarah and Andrew – have settled into their new roles, with him at
home and her work becoming stressful and ‘full on’. Pray for this precious
Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.
·
Nerida –
that her living and career situation is resolved with grace, and she finds a new
place to live and work that is more peaceful and supportive.
·
Bettina –
has retired after a lifetime of service to her company. Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses
and 18 grandchildren support her as she enters this new phase of her life, and
they all continue to grow in their love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
Ian and Jenny–
continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness
with personal evangelism is fulfilled and that their two grown children would turn
back to their relationship with Christ.
·
Elina –
needs God’s wisdom and the courage of her convictions and resolve to live a
life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.
·
Megan (for
emotional healing) and Scott, her
husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through
troubled times.
·
Christine –
give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing, pray most of all that her
husband gives his life to the Lord.
· Robin – continue to pray for her strength and healing after the loss her beloved mother. She has now moved into a new home and her daughter has moved away.
Pray for those in full-time service
Pray the Lord upholds our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil. Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.
Pray Especially for Salvation for:
·
Fred and Barb –
brother of Patti, and his wife.
·
Bryan and Julie
(Patti’s daughter) Pray for the salvation of at least one of the family and
that the others will follow shortly thereafter.
They are parents of Callilah, Adrian, Micah, Kevin and Nate
-- lost, damaged and troubled children – all of whom we
have prayed for over the years.
·
Louisville family
of Jeff and Rachael – that a desire grows in their heart for a
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
R & B
– exploring the Truth for themselves. Pray God places true believers in their
paths to disciple them.
·
Becky
– recovering from spinal surgery. Pray
for her patience and her health carers to be wise and compassionate, that her
family rallies around her to care for her and, most of all, that she finds the
Lord in all this.
·
Sophie–
seven-year-old daughter of a friend who is chronically ill and frail. Pray for her, her parents and health carers
to find ways to manage her symptoms and heal her and that this will lead them
all to God’s saving grace.
·
Paul –
please pray for him. He still has no job
or work after more than ten years. Pray
the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and strengthen.
·
Peggy – a
dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling cancer in
her neck for years. Her new oncologist
has started a combination of chemo and radiation that seems to be working, but
she is miserable. Pray for her as she
waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.
·
Demi and John – John was attacked and stabbed several times,
including piercing his heart. Although recovered
physically, they are still pulling their lives back together. Pray they might find the Lord in all the
chaos left behind and that she finds work after a year of searching -- as she
is now the ‘breadwinner’.
·
Jen N –
a Jewish woman I met during a project. Please pray for her that she will find a
new role and that she stays safe and healthy.
Pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).
· Don Yockey - lost his fight with cancer. Pray the Lord uses this time to open the
family’s hearts to His love and salvation.
· UPDATE - Sue and Rob – Luke was ordered to leave their home last Friday after verbally abusing Sue. And he did. Pray for Sue and Rob that they get their lives back together and for Luke to get the mental health support he so urgently needs. Pray the Lord saves all three.
Pray for those with ongoing health concerns
Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health. Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them.
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