Go Vertical: 21 Days To An Improved Prayer Life

Day 21: Lean Into God's Strength With Your Weaknesses

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1 (New King James Version).

One of the biggest challenges of being a believer is that we are still living in a fallen world. Our own weaknesses and shortcomings are very evident as we come into God's perfect presence to worship and pray. However, we must remember that the Holy Spirit is right there to help us in our moments of weakness! It is easy to give in to the temptation to buckle under the weight of the condemnation we feel from the enemy. Remember, he is known as "the accuser of the brethren." There will always be a strong opposition to our mission of coming to God with our prayers on a regular basis. We will do well to remember the words of the apostle Paul to the Corinthian believers:

"Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That'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." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT

We have come to the end of our twenty one days of prayer. My prayer is that you will gain strength from the fact that when you are weak, feeling overwhelmed by trials and tribulations and limping from the searing condemnation of your enemy, you can come into God's presence. You can rest assured of His acceptance, power, and grace as you reach out to Him in prayer. He will not turn away from you, but He will embrace you with His love:

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you." James 4:8 NLT.

Remember this: You can lean into God's strength with all your weaknesses!

Action Step:

- Have you ever felt like you are just too bad of a person to come to God in prayer?

- Remember that condemnation is a weapon in the hands of our enemy, who will do anything to keep us isolated from God.

- Have you ever felt weak in your walk with God? You need to know that every weakness you notice in yourself is an opportunity to approach God for help. A spring in the desert breaks through the weakest spot in the soil above it. In a similar way, God wants to spring up like a fountain through your place of weakness to water your desert moments.

- Take a moment to thank God for your weaknesses and your utter dependence on Him. Then ask Him to work with His power in your weakness!

- Please don't stop praying. God is ready to receive you wherever and whenever you call upon Him. Even when you feel weak and condemned!

- Now that you have received these simple prayer principles, please continue to live by these principles going forward. Remember, you are a simple prayer away from God's reassuring presence!

- May God bless you with His peace and increase!

Review:

1. Prayer Is Simply Talking And Listening To God.

2. Prayer Should Flow From A Contrite Heart.

3. Your Prayers Should Be Confident.

4. Your Prayers Should Be Concise And To The Point.

5. Your Prayers Should Be Consistent And Constant.

6. Pray In Jesus' Name.

7. Pray About Everything!

8. You Do Not Have Because You Don't Ask God.

9. Asking God With The Wrong Motive Doesn't Work.

10. Ask Expecting To Receive From God.

11. Ask God To Bless Your Enemies As You Pray.

12. Ask The Lord To Make You More Loving As You Pray.

13. Make Talking To God A Priority Every Day.

14. Pray According To God's Will.

15. Prayer Frames Help Shape Our Prayers.

16. Ask God To Change The Way You Think.

17. Think At A Higher Level When You Pray.

18. Where The Mind Goes The Person Follows.

19. Always Pray And Never Give Up.

20. Ask God To Show You What You Need To See.

21. Lean Into God's Strength With Your Weaknesses.