Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 12:9 “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

The Silverback gorilla is the strongest and most experienced male leader of his “troop.”  He is the one who decides where the others will travel, forage and sleep.  He is responsible for the safety of the group.  When challenged by interlopers he will beat his chest, scream, bare his teeth and charge, sometimes shaking a branch broken off from a tree!  What an amazing show of strength!

Today’s verse talks about a different Source of strength that empowers the believer to accomplish more than what was thought possible.  It seems so paradoxical but to experience His power and strength, we admit and even boast about our weaknesses!  There is no “show of strength” on our part.  For the believer, all the power and strength has Christ as its source.  It is through our weakness that God has the opportunity to manifest His strength.  And when this happens He gets all the praise, glory and recognition.

My pride keeps me from admitting to weakness.  No one wants to appear weak.  In fact, “The biggest weakness of all is the fear of appearing weak.”  But the more I admit to my weaknesses, my limitations and my failings, the more He can and does use me when I turn to Him.  He is so good to take that weakness and transform it into something strong.  He is so loving to ask me to be strong and then give me His strength!

Lord, make me strong today.