Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

5 December 2024

Reading From II Corinthians 10-13

“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

–II Corinthians 12:9-10

     God’s grace, His undeserved favor, is more than enough for us.  No good deed or religious ritual we could ever perform would add to the all-sufficient atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is in our struggles that His power, at work in our lives by His grace and through the Holy Spirit, is most brightly shown.  We must come to the realization that we cannot do this life on our own and that in and of ourselves we do not have what it takes to be truly successful in a way that has eternal significance or brings true spiritual satisfaction in our present reality.  We must understand that until we surrender and yield to the Spirit of God to allow Him to have His way, only then will we become witnesses to the mighty wonders He accomplishes in the lives of those who believe and follow. 

     Only God can move mountainous obstacles out of our way.  Only God can part our seas of trouble.  Only God can provide sustenance and abundance in the desert of want.  Only God can fulfill the deepest yearnings of our hearts.  Only God can give us our truest sense of identity.  Only God can connect us to an eternal community where we feel our deepest sense of belonging.  Only God can bring the assurance and comfort of hope and guide us into our destiny.  When we realize and acknowledge how much we need Him and we choose to rely on Him for everything we need for life and godliness, our cups run over and we experience the supernatural hand of God moving among us.

“God, grant us the courage we need to trust You even when times are tough.  I cannot do this life on my own.  I need You.  I need Your strength and power in my life.  Forgive me for relying on myself.  Teach me to depend on You.  What am I unless You are mindful of me?  I am nothing without You.  The very breath in my lungs is a gift from You.  I pray that I would acknowledge You and not take You for granted.  Make me truly grateful.  Increase my faith so that I might see Your wonders and glorify You.  In the strong and mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.”

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

–II Peter 1:3-4