27 AUGUST
WEAKNESS TURNED TO STRENGTH
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.”
(Romans 8:26, NIV)
As much as this Bible passage primarily refers to the Holy Spirit’s help in our weakness in prayer, our weakness may also include physical pain and suffering, as well as some in-born character flaws that we find difficult to overcome. God so strengthened Apostle Paul that, despite the thorn in his flesh, he preached the Gospel very widely, travelling extensively by land and sea.
As believers, we become controlled by the Holy Spirit Himself – which gives us uncommon strength – and not by our old nature of sin, which leads to weakness. Sometimes in difficult situations, we do not know what to pray for – deliverance or endurance; healing or patience? In our weakness in the place of prayer, especially in crisis situations, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and through us, according to God’s will. He comes to our aid to help bear our burdens. He is our heaven-sent Comforter and Counsellor; our ever-prevailing Advocate, who has never lost a case and never will.
Fanny Crosby became blind at about two months old, after being treated of a mild illness by a quack doctor. In spite of her blindness, she wrote over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs. She was a poet, teacher and mission worker by the power of the Holy Spirit. In response to a remark by a well-meaning preacher, who had said, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you,” Fanny replied, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind? Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my heart will be that of my Saviour.”
Then, she went on to write: “Oh what a happy soul I am! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be!”
ACTION: Look away from your weaknesses and focus on your strengths; count your blessings, not your inadequacies!
PRAYER: Lord, please, give me grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be content and do exploits for your Kingdom, despite my weaknesses.