IF ASKED, WHAT WOULD YOU BRAG ABOUT REGARDING YOURSELF?

SCRIPTURE:
“…but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.”
(2 Corinthians 12:5b)

MEDITATION:
“Boast about one’s weaknesses”?
That flies in the face of everything the world teaches us, doesn’t it?
We are encouraged by the world to accentuate the positives 
and overlook the negatives, however Paul takes the opposite approach.
He is proud of his weaknesses!

Why would he feel that way?
He recognized that the Lord could fill the gaps in his weaknesses.
Paul knew that when he was weak, he was more dependent on the Lord.
As he was more dependent on the Lord, he became much closer to Him.

Paul was confident that through suffering, 
he would be successful in his efforts to point others to Jesus.
Think about this – suffering and success go together.
If we are successful without suffering, 
it is because others before us have suffered.
If we are suffering without succeeding, 
it is so that others after us can succeed.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
When things are not going our way we can find joy in knowing that our pain, 
our distress and our neediness can be a type of 
birth pangs to a better world.
God is preparing a masterpiece for all who belong to Him.

The more we are similar to the Lord, 
the more we can look forward to a better world.
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him; 
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

ACTION:
If you were asked to boast about anything about you, what would you choose?
Do you have enough confidence in the Lord to boast about your weaknesses?
Sometimes when you interview for a job, 
they ask you to tell about your strengths and weaknesses.
Would you only embellish your strengths, 
or would you be able to point out the positives in your weaknesses?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that because Jesus overcame 
suffering, I can also overcome it. Teach me how to look at my weaknesses in 
a positive light. Convince me that being honest about my weaknesses will 
help me to build a closer relationship with You. Rather than developing 
feelings of inferiority, show me how to be glad of my weaknesses, instead 
of striving to overcome them in my own strength. I praise You for paving 
the way and showing me that with You, I can be victorious over the things 
that drain my strength.”