By Andrew Williams
Opening Prayer
Father, strip away our pride and self-reliance, and teach us the joy of depending completely on You for everything.
Today’s Scripture (NLT)
2 Corinthians 12:9a
“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’“
Abiding in Christ requires a radical shift in our thinking. Our culture celebrates independence, self-sufficiency, and strength. But God’s kingdom operates on a completely different principle: dependence. In this passage, the Apostle Paul is pleading with God to remove a “thorn in the flesh,” some kind of persistent struggle. God’s answer is profound. He doesn’t remove the weakness; He reveals its purpose.
God’s power “works best in weakness.” This means our struggles, our limitations, and our areas of inadequacy are not liabilities; they are assets. They are the very places where God’s power is most perfectly displayed. When we are strong in ourselves, we rely on ourselves. But when we are weak, we are forced to depend on Him, creating the perfect condition for His power to flow through us.
This is the heart of abiding. It is a daily, conscious choice to stop pretending we have it all together. It is an honest admission that we need His grace for our patience, His strength for our challenges, and His wisdom for our decisions. Dependence isn’t a sign of failure; it is the prerequisite for experiencing God’s power.
Disciples’ Life Tip: Identify one area where you feel particularly weak or inadequate today. Instead of being frustrated by it, offer it to God in prayer: “Lord, I am weak here. Thank you that this is where your power works best. I depend on you.”
Closing Prayer: God, thank You for our weaknesses, because they make room for Your strength. Help us to embrace dependence on You as the true path to a powerful life. Amen.
