Thorn-Filled Flesh

By Chris©

Lord,
As I look at my manly flesh so corrupt, I cannot help but have a sense of sorrow come over me

But then after the sorrow, I feel joy

Joy because You died for such unworthy flesh as mine

Joy because I have another chance at life

And with this new chance at life, I have a new chance at love…your Love

I have a chance at Your love because You are Love

And Love is in You

Love that surpasses all feeble human understanding

Lord, each time I fall, you pick me back up and lead me in the right way

Because of this, I constantly learn more each day what it means to be a son of God…a son of the King

As Paul said to the Corinthians, they had become sorrowful but in a godly way, that through this sorrow they might see light

A light that shines so bright, because that light is a reflection of You.

Because of their sorrow, the begin to see more clearly the path you have laid out for them

And not only do they see the path more clearly, but they understand better how they should walk in this path.

Every time I fall, I feel exactly the same way…that my understanding increases so much

I understand that every time I fall, it is for a purpose.

Your word says that all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord, and are called according to Your purpose.

Lord,

I whole heartedly desire the meat of Your word and not just the sincere milk of it

And I thank You for the milk and meat that I have gotten thus far, because it has helped to build my faith to where it is now.

Continue to build this vessel of Yours to be what you intended, according to Your will

I do nothing for man, nor for man to be glorified

It is all for You

You are my God

You are my Savior

You are my Lord,

You are my Redeemer…no one else

No one else could stand in Your place on that cross

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

As I live in this cold world, filled with hatred, temptation, and rebellion among other things, I rejoice in my infirmities, because it is a testament to Your great Love, power, and authority

It shows me how miniscule of a man I am, and how much more miniscule of a man I would be without You

It reminds me that in myself I am but weak, but in You, I am strong

So as I look at my thorn-filled flesh, I say…Thank You Father, for it is You who brought me through…