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His Strength Against My Weakness


I thought after I originally posted this that it might be better if I explained a little about what inspired it. It wasn't inspired by some big failure that I'm aware of. It's that lately I've come to recognize with more emphasis than ever as I spend more time focusing intently on the vastness of our God, that everything about me is so insignificant by comparison. My plans, my wisdom and my strength don't even register on that scale. But even so, He knows everything about me in the most minute and intimate detail. And still, knowing all there is to know, He loves me deeply. While I make plans for moments, months or even a few years regarding issues that are subject to decay and change, He makes unchangeable plans that span thousands of years with eternal results. I find myself at times thinking about the things that the Lord mentioned in His conversation with Job and realize that I, like Job, really know so very little. I am so small, so frail and limited by true comparison with His greatness in every way. And on my own ... am vulnerable and subject to possible failures in every facet of this life. But I hold the choice. The choice to rely on my own limited resources with their limited results and a limited life view, or hold His eternal perspective for life and appeal to an unfathomable power and wisdom ...  

Lord, guard my feet. Keep them hard on the pathway that you've chosen for me to travel lest I slip on my own understanding and dash my hope against the rocks of self deception in the fog of my ignorance. Let your wisdom and Spirit be the clear guide to direct my feet on my pilgrimage to you.

I fear my own wisdom and my flesh for they vie for my attention. They are incomplete, failing and subject to error. They are both tired and weak yet they persist in their attempts to persuade my judgment. My flesh does not recognize its terminal limitation against my eternal journey.

My heart longs to honor you in ways that bless your own, but my flesh is weary and concerned with its own safety and comfort. I pray Lord, in the days that remain, give me strength, guidance and courage to fulfill your desires for this life in the days that this body yet holds life.

Make your priorities the sole prevailing occupations of my heart and mind during my remaining days on the earth to limit my regret and shame upon reflection in the future yet to come. Transform what remains of this man into a better image of your own heart and a compliant willing servant to your will ... whatever it may be.

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