Today we continue our new series entitled, “Press through it!”
For the past few weeks we looked at Paul’s recollection of his amazing trip to heaven. This will be the last message on the topic.
Instead of taking credit for the trip or boasting in the fact that God selected him for it, Paul chose to boast in his weakness and God’s strength. Why? Because Paul understood the power that is unleashed from heaven when a human has a surrendered and yielded heart. It is only when we die to self that we fully access God’s grace.
So what does this mean to you today? The answer comes in the form of four questions.
1. Do you deserve what God has done in your life? Instead of boasting in the fact that he was selected to visit heaven, Paul boasted the realization that he was not worthy of the trip. God is a good God and He wants to bless you richly. He will. God will be better to you than you deserve, and when He is, satan will do all he can to get you to feel unworthy of God’s blessings in order to drive you into condemnation. Do yourself a favor and beat satan to the bunch. Openly acknowledge the fact that you are not worthy of what God has done in your life. You have not earned it, you don’t deserve it, and God did it because He loves you. God wants to bless you by His grace, not your merit. When you settle this issues in your heart, it will be easier for you to accept blessings from God and resist condemnation from satan.
2. Will you be good enough to deserve what God has planned for your future? If satan can’t get you to feel condemned over the fact that you are not worthy of what God did for you in the past, he will do all he can to get you to feel unworthy of God’s future plans for your life. But you can beat satan to the punch here as well. Just acknowledge, up front, the fact that God’s plans for your life are far greater than anything you could ever earn or deserve. When you accept God’s plans by faith, knowing He made them by grace, it will keep you from feeling timid or intimated; it will also keep you from succumbing to satan’s attacks.
3. Will you have the ability to accomplish God’s will for your life? Knowing you don’t deserve the plans God made for you is one thing, but acknowledging the fact that you don’t have to power to accomplish them is another issue. There is a liberating freedom found in acknowledging your inadequacies before a holy God. Paul boasted in his weakness. The Apostle was open and honest about the fact that his strength was not sufficient. But therein lies the power. When your strength is not sufficient, God’s grace is always enough. God’s strength is only made perfect in your weakness. His power is released when you die to self and get out of the way.
4. Will your level of commitment be enough to stay the course? If satan could not get you to feel condemned over the fact that God has been better to you than you deserve in your past, that you don’t deserve the plans He has made for your future, and that you don’t have the strength to accomplish His will, as a last ditch effort satan will tell you that you are not committed enough. But listen, God has grace for that as well. Even when you are faithless, God will remain faithful (2 Tim 2:13). God is more committed to you and to the plans He made for you, than you are to yourself. Find strength, solace and encouragement in God’s commitment to you. God will never turn His back on you. God loves you with an unconditional love. God made plans for you before the world began. God tracked you down long enough for you to say YES to His Son. God will now continue to work with you until you to SAY to His plans. He is tirelessly committed to you. God will never quit. He will never stop. He will never give up on you. And this commitment has nothing to do with your performance or your lack of performance. It is has everything to do with God’s unearned, undeserved and amazing grace!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I open my heart to Your grace. I openly acknowledge the fact that I do not deserve what You have done for me in my past. You have been better to me than I have been to You. You have blessed me far beyond my performance. So looking back I say, “Thank You!” I also acknowledge that Your future plans for me are far greater than anything I could ever deserve. As You reveal things to me, that You have planned for my life, all I can do is accept them by faith, knowing that You developed them by Your undeserved grace. I also acknowledge the fact that I cannot accomplish Your plans without Your power. My strength is not enough. Therefore, instead of feeling bad about my weaknesses, I will boast in it. My weakness opens the door to Your strength. On my own, I cannot. But by Your grace, I most certainly will! And lastly Father, when satan questions my commitment, I simply remind satan of Your commitment towards me. You are more committed to me than I ever could be. You will never leave me, nor forsake. Since You will always be there for me, I am confident that I will arrive at Your desired destination for my life. Come what may, You have given me the grace to PRESS THROUGH IT! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
