What's your thing?
What's the thing, person, or situation which is like nails on a chalkboard to you?
Ahhh...I can almost feel you cringe.
We all have one or two things in our lives - our hot buttons - things which cause us to be quick to anger, to be easily hurt or to be an ugly version of ourselves.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
2 Corinthians 12:7
Paul doesn't mess around. He calls out his "thorn in my flesh" as a "messenger of Satan". What Paul recognizes is that "the things" which trip us up, which torment and frustrate us are often obstacles put in our path by the evil one of this world. Satan uses "the things" as ways to derail us from our path and to pull our focus from God. But don't for one second think that God can't use our "things" to draw us closer to Him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Whatever your "thing" is, God can and will use it for His Glory.
Your "thing" will cause you to stumble - but it will also cause you to recognize that you need God to carry you.
Your "thing" will cause you to be quick to anger - but it will also cause you to recognize you need to seek God to help you forgive.
Your "thing" will cause you to be hurtful and mean - but it will also give you the opportunity to see all "things" through the eyes of a loving God.
Our "things", our proverbial thorns in the sides, will likely follow us throughout our lives. Your thing will likely change as God teaches you to press through the obstacle and truly set Satan behind you. But that Satan is a tricky one and he is constantly on the search for the next new"thing" to try and bring you down and pull you away from God.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on guard - and stand firm - listen and watch for God to guide you over, out and through your "thing" so that He can give you the best "thing" ever - His Grace.
Scripture
Quote of the Day
“Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.”
E. Joseph Cossman
Question of the Day
What is your greatest obstacle?
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