Stepping Stones: Too Shy To Call Your Bodyguard?
12 August 2010
Transformational Tip
I grew up in a rough part of town, and all boys were clearly measured by their ability to fight…to be tough. I wasn’t that tough, but I had an older brother that was by far the toughest boy in town. So as Jamie’s brother, I was never measured by my physical weakness or limitations…I carried with me my big brother’s strength; for all knew to fight me was to ultimately fight my brother Jamie…and no one wanted to do that.
Some days I feel so limited, so inept…so clumsy. I’m sure you have days like this. On days like these remember that, thankfully, we need not be measured by our human limitations. We have a big brother, an advocate, a protector to step in and lend us His toughness and power.
As a kid, it wasn’t all about just me, because my brother was always there to protect me. Satan wants us to think it is all about us…depends on us…and nobody is there to help us. Depending or relying on any one else is really hard, especially for men. Self-sufficiency is what we’ve been brainwashed and trained to practice, and it does seem so reasonable to strive for. But putting my confidence in me, to meet my needs, solve everything and to soothe me, wow, what a set up for failure and loss.
So today, remember that it’s not about your human limitations…it’s about His strength, not yours. We have so much more than a tough brother in our corner…we have our Lord and God. Recall the times where He has protected you from the world or your own mistakes…like speeding, financial impulses, dating and sexual mistakes, words you wish you could have taken back. When you have some struggle today, put on the armor, trust in God’s power and promises and put your confidence in His track record, not yours.
Prayer
Dear God our Father, I take baby steps of faith, and based on this genuine faith, I am confident that You will show me what You can do. I want to know the excitement of seeing Your work in me. I am thankful for seeing Your work in this Stepping Stones community of believers. All glory to you, my Lord. Through faith, I receive Your Spirit. Give me Your Spirit today and everyday. Your Spirit empowers me to go beyond my human limitations…beyond my physical ability and strength…for without You I am so much weaker. I pray that I not measure my human limitations as I face the challenges and burdens before me. The issue is not my human limitations…the issue is Your Strength, not mine. I believe by walking closer to you, I can better understand and accomplish Your purpose with Your strength, not mine. I pray in the name of the One who is my Big Protector, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
And the apostles said unto the lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
Luke 17:5-6
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I grew up in a rough part of town, and all boys were clearly measured by their ability to fight…to be tough. I wasn’t that tough, but I had an older brother that was by far the toughest boy in town. So as Jamie’s brother, I was never measured by my physical weakness or limitations…I carried with me my big brother’s strength; for all knew to fight me was to ultimately fight my brother Jamie…and no one wanted to do that.
Some days I feel so limited, so inept…so clumsy. I’m sure you have days like this. On days like these remember that, thankfully, we need not be measured by our human limitations. We have a big brother, an advocate, a protector to step in and lend us His toughness and power.
As a kid, it wasn’t all about just me, because my brother was always there to protect me. Satan wants us to think it is all about us…depends on us…and nobody is there to help us. Depending or relying on any one else is really hard, especially for men. Self-sufficiency is what we’ve been brainwashed and trained to practice, and it does seem so reasonable to strive for. But putting my confidence in me, to meet my needs, solve everything and to soothe me, wow, what a set up for failure and loss.
So today, remember that it’s not about your human limitations…it’s about His strength, not yours. We have so much more than a tough brother in our corner…we have our Lord and God. Recall the times where He has protected you from the world or your own mistakes…like speeding, financial impulses, dating and sexual mistakes, words you wish you could have taken back. When you have some struggle today, put on the armor, trust in God’s power and promises and put your confidence in His track record, not yours.
Prayer
Dear God our Father, I take baby steps of faith, and based on this genuine faith, I am confident that You will show me what You can do. I want to know the excitement of seeing Your work in me. I am thankful for seeing Your work in this Stepping Stones community of believers. All glory to you, my Lord. Through faith, I receive Your Spirit. Give me Your Spirit today and everyday. Your Spirit empowers me to go beyond my human limitations…beyond my physical ability and strength…for without You I am so much weaker. I pray that I not measure my human limitations as I face the challenges and burdens before me. The issue is not my human limitations…the issue is Your Strength, not mine. I believe by walking closer to you, I can better understand and accomplish Your purpose with Your strength, not mine. I pray in the name of the One who is my Big Protector, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
And the apostles said unto the lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
Luke 17:5-6
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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