ANY OLD THORN!

2 Corinthians 12:7 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 12:7

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

In our Scripture for today, Paul shares that he was given a thorn in the flesh. I have heard some who have tried to guess what that thorn was. If it was important we would have been told. By his not naming the thorn we are better able to relate to the thorn that we may have in our own life. I guess you might say; “The type of thorn does not matter—any old thorn will do! The important thing is not the thorn but the Christ who uses the thorn.”

This is why it is so essential that we spend much time in prayer, asking God how we should pray. We are too guilty of telling God what to do, instead of listening for His voice. Once Paul learned the secret of the thorn, he could see that the Lord’s strength and power was made perfect in his weakness.

We may strive to be perfect and have it all put together, but remember the secret of the thorn. It is in our weakness that the Lord’s strength is demonstrated. Paul was so excited about this discovery that he began to delight in his weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. Why? Because it was then that Christ could be seen more clearly. It is not a call to a persecution complex. It is presenting of our body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him as our normal act of worship.

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

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If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

LIVE DIFFERENTLY!

2 Corinthians 4:8-9​ –  Devotional

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week by Pastor Cecil by clicking above on the play button.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

OUR REAL HOME!

2 Corinthians 5:1 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 5:1

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

I think it is safe to say that most of us have had close calls with death. I have listened to stories of deep sea fishermen and pilots that made me wonder how they escaped death. Even those who are the most cautious about taking risks can recall a near miss. My past experience in law enforcement and the military at times brought me close to eternity.

The apostle Paul was a tent-maker by trade. I can almost visualize his calloused fingers and hands. In today’s Scripture, Paul uses his profession as a tent-maker to illustrate a spiritual truth: This human body of ours is not going to survive. There are those who try to reverse the aging process in various ways, but nothing is going to keep us from coming to the end of our life and entering eternity.

It is sad that most of us spend too much time and effort on things that will pass away. By spending so much time on earthly things, we neglect the things that really count—those things that have eternal value. Receiving Christ as our personal Savior is vital to prepare for eternity. Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word will prepare us for that heavenly home that will never pass away. Which home are you spending your time and effort to build?

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

GOD IS ENOUGH!

2 Corinthians 12:10 – Devotional

2 Corinthians 12:10​

“I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

What answer did Paul receive when he prayed for his thorn in the flesh to be removed? GOD IS ENOUGH! Three times Paul prayed for God to remove the thorn and three times the answer was that God’s grace was sufficient.

We all need to learn the same lesson. The sufficiency of God is all we need to bring meaning and purpose to our life. There was a time in my life when I felt that I needed to have my own way. If only I had that request answered by the Lord then everything would be at peace and perfect. It did not happen!

Have you ever experienced that in your life? Are you facing an issue or issues in your life at this very moment in which you feel that if only this or that would happen then you would be at peace and find contentment?

The Lord is the One who is in control and we need to learn the lesson that Paul discovered. In the midst of our weakness and inadequacy God steps in and begins to reveal His power displayed in and through us. I pray that you will allow your personal thorn in the flesh to become the power of God revealed!

May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

A CHEERFUL GIVER!

2 Corinthians 9:7 –  Devotional

2 Corinthians 9:7

“As every man according as he determines in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Listen to today’s Message of the Week by Pastor Cecil by clicking above on the play button.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Share a blessing by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Pastor Cecil’s Daily E-Votional by clicking on the Subscribe button above.

Share the Lord with someone by directing them to https://PastorCecil.com.

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

A SPECIAL BLESSING!

2 Corinthians 13:11​ –  Devotional

2 Corinthians 13:11

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

Over the years I have sat at the bedside of the sick and dying. I have prayed for and prayed with those who are seconds away from eternity. While I may be a empathetic as possible toward them, I can only entrust them into the loving arms of the Savior who also died, but He died so they can live forever.

That is the special blessing that is reserved for those of us who have died to self and can face the end of our time here on earth with confidence and assurance. We can live with confidence knowing that Jesus has died for us that we may live forever with Him!

What a special blessing and a special gift. I have been reminded of this special gift for the born-again believer who is seconds away from receiving the greatest gift that could ever be given – – eternal life!

Since we have been given such a glorious blessing, we need to share it with anyone who will listen. Some will laugh and call us delusional, but we need to offer them the special blessing of eternal life!

Blessings dear hearts walk with God today and become a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.