…”My grace is sufficient for you….” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP)

A sweet dear one of mine repeated something that I've heard said time and time again - it was said out of love for me and in humor… But… I dare not ever mean it seriously… This dear one said something like "I've learned to not pray for patience." The thing of it is, that for me, I dare not even allow that thought to exist in my mind, and here is why.  If I withhold the teaching of the Lord, who knows far better than I know, who sees all, and has my very best, my eternal best, in His purpose for me - if I withhold His teaching it is withholding my very self from Him, refusing to relinquish control to the Sovereign Lord.  Why would I refuse to pray such prayers? It is true His Grace is sufficient. His Grace is sufficient even when the answer is unpleasant or not what I was hoping to hear. I trust Him, I've learned to trust Him through very difficult times; through times where I would've sworn (and in the moment I did) that He wasn't there and He was not accessible and that His love was absent and that there was no way this whatever this was could be turned out for His good and His glory much less my good. But He was, and evermore will be.  So whatever His lot is for me, whatever His choice, I say yes; and I struggle to get my mind and my thoughts and my emotions into obedience with His will.  Because I know He has my best best my eternal best in mind and purpose for me. 

 So if you've read this far and you're one of the ones who has said something like "I know better than to pray for patience:" please don't be offended by my thoughts.  Just know that I'm just expressing that I trust God more than I hate discomfort. I am also hoping that maybe a little bit from my testimony (the testimony of a sometimes whiny not quite mature Christian, who has come far enough in her journey with the Lord to know that He is trustworthy and He is faithful and He loves us, with an everlasting, all knowing all wise, all sovereign, all good love) - that my testimony might encourage you to trust Him and allow the disciple to teach you so that you may reap a harvest of righteousness and peace (Heb 12:11).  

He is my king and while I am not always an obedient child, my heart is sold out for Him, even in those moments where I displease him and I am unfaithful, even when I stomp my foot and say to God this is not the answer I wanted, even then, it is His heart and His words (bible) that turn my heart back to Him. I shall follow Him all the days of my life.

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.  ... it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works."(Psalm 73:25-26, 28 AMP)

This post was inspired by today's TGIF devotional. 

…”My grace is sufficient for you….” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Read more: http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/tgif/#ixzz3QyPXVAVj