When You’re Desperate: 21 Days of Honest PrayerНамуна

Paul begged God to take his “thorn of the flesh” away not just once, but repeatedly. Instead of removing it, God gave him something else: grace. That’s what desperate prayer often leads to — not a quick fix, but a deeper experience of God’s power right where we feel weakest. Your weakness isn’t a problem to solve, but the primary place God’s power is perfected.

Practice:

What’s the thing you’ve asked God to take away — maybe more than once? Start there. Bring it to Him again today. Ask Him to change it if He will — and to meet you in it if He doesn’t.

Ask for His grace to be sufficient.
Ask for His power to be perfected in your weakness.

You’re not meant to solve it or fix it before you bring it before the Lord. Let His power meet you in your weakness.

Guided Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Today I am reminded

that Your grace is all I need.

Forgive me for living as if

anything is more powerful than

the grace You offer me fully and freely.

While the world teaches me

to hide and cover my weakness,

You tell me my weakness is where

Your power is made perfect.

So I give my weaknesses to You.

Use my weakness in whatever ways

will allow Your glory to shine through.

Increase my confidence that

any weakness submitted to You

is so much stronger

than my greatest strength

that I attempt without You.

Rest Your power on me

as I solely rely on Your grace today.