Acknowledging Our Weakness, and Being Weird

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. —2 Corinthians 13:4

Our Father, we all struggle with weakness. We're reminded almost every day that we don't have it all together. We need You. We have heartaches and disappointments that haven't gone away . . . the grief of broken relationships, illnesses, and recent deaths. We invite You to enter in, Lord. Enter into all of that on our behalf. Through Your presence may we find relief and release from that which has bound us, tied us up within. We're able to take only so much, and sometimes we come to a virtual breaking point. In our times of physical and emotional weakness, we need Your comfort and Your strength.

We are also stalked by sin. We need Your grace. Sin has taken a terrible toll on the human condition. And though we are well-versed in every possible way of ignoring it or explaining it away, today we come to terms with it. Surely we have failed or fallen in some area just this week, and the ache of that nags us and troubles us—some needless words, some outburst of anger, some lingering resentment, or some caustic response. Lord, thank You for the blood of Christ that keeps on cleansing us from all sins, including these. Forgive us, our Father. Remove from us the enemy's desire to make us ashamed and to drag us under the load of that failure. May we remember that in Your grace You not only forgive, You wipe the slate clean. Thank You that You know our weakness and love us nevertheless.

In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

  Romans 8:26 ;  15:1 ;  1 Corinthians 1:25 ;  Hebrews 4:15 .

We all struggle with these things on a daily basis. Why do we long, so very much, to be like this world we live in?  This world that is sliding sideways into the abyss of Hell. We all want to be accepted, loved, popular even. We want these things so badly, that we are willing to sacrifice are relationship with God to get these things. I want to challenge each of you to be different, weird even.

Jeremiah 1:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew^[a] you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ”

1 Peter 2:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

It's very hard to be different, but think of the impact you could make if people quit looking at you, and started looking at the God inside you. Jesus went before us, and gave us the perfect example of being different. Can you take the example He gave us, and act it out in your own life? What if it meant you wouldn't be as popular, people wouldn't like you as much? Will you be willing to make that sacrifice to be a Godly example? I have had trouble with these things in the past, and this prayer helped. Consider using it, and be "weird" for God. All who know me, may think I am a little weird, but when I am dead and gone, I hope I am remembered for a Godly weirdness; instead of a worldly acceptance.

ARE YOU READY TO BE WEIRD?????