Monday, June 22
When was the last time you had “one of those days”? You woke up late because the alarm clock didn’t work. Now because you’re rushing you spilled coffee on yourself. You’re running out of the house to discover that the alarm system is malfunctioning. The car doesn’t want to start, so you have to call a mechanic. On the way to work you say a prayer, but it seems like your prayer is not getting through, finally you arrive at work and the boss is upset and he insults you because you’re late. Then you receive a phone call and it’s the alarm company telling you that your home alarm system went off. A few minutes later you get another call, this time it’s the mechanic to tell you that it’s going to cost you $800.00 to fix the car. After a long and difficult day you finally arrive back home to find that the city posted a $175.00 fine on your front door because of a false alarm. It’s been one of those days, you want to cry, scream, curse, run away, you just want this day to end.

2 Corinthians 12: 7-9 NLT

7 … So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

In today’s Bible reading we find the Apostle Paul not only having a bad day, apparently he’s been going through a very bad season in his life. Now, if ever there was anyone worthy of God answering his or her prayer it had to be the Apostle Paul. Paul was a man of great faith; many miracles were performed through him. He wrote approximately one third of the New Testament. He was a man of commitment willing to make whatever sacrifices were necessary for the gospel.

But he had an unknown condition that had become a constant source of embarrassment and pain. Three times he prayed to God for relief, but each time the answer was “no”.

The problem is that our priorities are not always the same as God’s priorities. Paul’s priority was to get relief. God’s priority was humility. Paul’s priority was to be comfortable. God’s priority was Paul’s character. For God, Paul’s character was so important that he allowed him to be tormented in order to keep him humble. This may not be the God you know, but the same is true for you and me, because God is far more interested in developing our character than making us comfortable. The reason is that the more God is able to develop the character of Christ in us, the more we will be able to reflect His glory through our lives.

When you’re going through a bad day or a rough time in your life and you pray and it seems like God is not answering your prayer, it’s that God is more interested in developing your character than He is in making you comfortable. I know that can be a though pill to swallow but there’s some great news: God will grant you grace, which is always more than what you need and you’re really going to like the end results. Just ask Paul’s who said:

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 NLT

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It’s simple, God is much more interested in developing your character than making you comfortable.

Heavenly Father, I pray for your will to be done in my life, yet I realize that it will likely lead to discomfort. But as I look at what you did through so many great leaders like Paul, I’m willing to go through whatever you have planned for me. I know that in the end it will glorify you and I will receive a great reward.

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Todo el mes de junio – Julio

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