“For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!  Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children” (2 Corinthians 12:13-14).

Here we see the thing often overlooked.  Just as Paul was coming not to be a burden, nor ask for their help, so also, God does not come to see what He can gain from us, but what He can give us.  Look to the Lord and see that He has come into our midst to offer the abundance of His love and mercy.  Be captivated by the offer before you and do not be as the world, which is always discounting love and truth.

Lord, open my eyes to see the truth and not walk away from the grace You offer.  Lead me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope and glory.  Guide me in Your goodness to walk in the love You give and grow in the likeness of Christ who has come to lead the way.  Help me overcome the obstacles of this world that I may abide fully in You in hope and love.

Lord Jesus, lead the way into the life to which You call me.  Help me to see through the problems I have here and now in order to live into the life which is everlasting.  In all things Lord, help me to keep my eyes upon You as You lead me.  You have come seeking what has always been Yours.  Let me see this and gladly abide in You my Lord, Master, Savior, and King.  Amen.

“I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:11-12).

In our sinful humanity, we can be moved to the point of seeing the old Adam once again reigning, if even for our intent to promote the Gospel.  Do not focus upon the sin, as sinners do, but upon the fervency of the one who desires to share in earnest the truth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  The world condemns and the Lord resurrects.  To which shall you appeal and to whom shall you go?

Lord, I often say one thing and do another.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would be guided by the unchanging truth You have revealed once for all on the cross.  Guide me to live into the life to which You have called me by grace that I would accept the challenge and live the life for which You have created me.  Let me not be of the world, but Your child in the making.

Lord Jesus, You have come to redeem us from death.  By Your stripes, and your stripes alone, are we healed. Guide me, O Lord, that I may be led into the truth You have revealed and walk on the path You set before me.  In the hope of the resurrection to come, trusting Your promise of everlasting life, set my heart upon the better things that I may walk in the newness of life that You give.  Amen.

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Do you want to figure it out or are you willing to come to the place where you trust the Lord above all things?  Death is what is finally overcome, but along the way, all of those things which kill us need to be slain.  Christ’s weakness upon the cross is the strength that overcame sin.  When we give up our will to the Lord, we are weak, but then it is there that we become strong.

Lord, teach me all I need to know that I would walk in Your way of righteousness.  I think I know and I do not.  I believe I have strength, but I am weak.  Lead me into my weakness that I may encounter Your strength.  Guide me in Your goodness that I may leave behind my erroneous thinking.  You know all that I need.  Lead me in the way I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save us.  Yes, we all need what You provide from the cross.  Your grace is more than sufficient.  In fact, I do not know the fullness of what Your grace does.  Help me to not stop where I am puzzled, but to continue on with the faith You have given me, learning and growing as You lead me.  Let me learn how to be content in and through all things.  Amen.

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8).

The Lord will use whatever means necessary to keep us from turning inward and taking up the cause of rebelling against Him.  Turn therefore from the ways of the world and know that salvation is all-encompassing.  We may not like the fight but the fight is all around us.  We may not want the turmoil, but this is the result of Adam and Eve choosing the way of knowing good and evil.

Lord, I am often confused by all of the offerings in this world.  I do not which way to turn, or how to proceed.  Lead me by Your Spirit, Lord, to not need messengers of Satan to keep me humble, but a new and clean heart that looks to You in and through all things.  Whatever is needed, thank You, Lord, for providing.  You have demonstrated that You will do whatever is needed for our salvation.

Lord Jesus, You gave up Your life that I might have life.  I am often tempted and fall prey to the wiles of this world.  I am without excuse.  Lord, by Your grace teach me to be stronger in You.  Teach me to become more reliant upon You that I might not give in to the insanity of this world.  Lead me ever deeper into the faith You have given me that I may grow in Your likeness.  Amen.

“On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.  For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me” (2 Corinthians 12:5-6).

In all things, look to that which will edify without bringing harm.  Learn where you may instruct when given the opportunity, and never think more of yourself than you ought.  These principles are true and useful.  Give thanks that the Lord has reached into your heart and granted You the words of eternal life.  Boast not of yourself but in the Lord, and give thanks for all He gives.

Lord, teach me that I may learn from You.  You do give the words of everlasting life, but I often fall short of them because I want to believe what I want to believe.  Lead me out of myself and into You.  By whatever means and through whomever You send my way, teach me, lead me, and help me to receive You however and whenever You come to me.  Teach me to be humble, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You are always at work.  What You have done from the cross ripples through all time.  As many as believe, You give the power to be children of the Father.  Lead me, Lord, and tell me what is right and what is wrong.  Keep me in the truth of Your eternal and everlasting Words of life.  Amen.

“And I know how such a man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows – was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2 Corinthians 12:3-4).

There are things which have happened that we do not understand.  Some believe and some do not.  In one sense, it really does not matter, for God spoke into existence all that exists out of nothing.  And there are some who live for the miraculous.  Be sober minded and rejoice if the Lord shows you something special, but think nothing of it if He does not show you anything.

Lord, You love me and that is a fact.  Whether I speak with the tongues of men and angels or just live a simple life, it does not matter.  You are my God and my Savior and apart from You there is nothing.  Lead me deeper into this relationship You have established with me by grace that I may walk now and always with You.

Lord Jesus, You have paid a price I cannot fathom, for a burden I could never carry, in order that I may have a life I cannot imagine.  Lead me ever deeper into the mysteries of the faith that I would learn from You and grow in the way You would have me grow.  Lead me, Lord, and help me to humbly follow.  Help me to freely accept whatever You choose to do with joy and thankfulness.  Amen.

“Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago – whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows – such a man was caught up to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:1-2).

The Lord is at work.  The Lord is always at work.  Too often, we go about our business and do not pay attention to what the Lord is doing.  What will it take to arouse your sensibilities and give thanks to the Lord for all of His goodness.  What will it take to lead you in the direction in following the Lord in all of His ways?  Do not be impressed by things of this world; be raised from the dead and follow the Lord.

Lord, often my senses are deadened and I do not pay attention.  I want to be wowed and impressed.  Lead me, O Lord, away from this nonsense that I may live in the truth that I am always in Your presence.  Guide me to rejoice in Your goodness and seek Your face all the moments of each day.  Show me, Lord, the way You would have me go that I may grow into whom You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You walked along and every day provided miracle after miracle and yet many did not believe.  Lord, You have given me miracle after miracle and have faced my unbelief.  Shatter my illusions that I may humbly submit to the truth that You alone are Lord and I need You to save me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of salvation that I may be saved.  Raise me, Lord, that I may live a new life.  Amen.

“The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.  In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands” (2 Corinthians 11:31-33).

The Lord is God of all and knows all things.  He through whom all things have their being has come to lead the way for as many as would follow Him along the narrow way of salvation.  We need not focus upon the particulars, but see the simple reality that God calls and there are those who will follow.  Come then into the presence of the Lord and walk with Him now and forever.

Lord, I often make more complex the way things are.  Help me I pray to see through all of the things that get in the way in order that I may know the simplicity of the Gospel.  You have come that as many as trust in You would have everlasting life.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life and help me not to wander from the path You have set before me.  Let me look to You, and not circumstances, to always guide me.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for each one of us.  Help me to take Your hand knowing that all things are now, as they always have been, in Your hands.  Grant that I would see through those things that get in the way and follow You no matter what the earthly cost.  You have and will provide for every circumstance.  Help me to trust You above all things.  Amen.

“Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:29-30).

We each know what we know.  Is it boasting to speak of what you truly know?  We live in a funny age where you pretend not to know when you do and pretend to know when you do not.  Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind through Christ.  Be led by the One who will bring all things into subjection to Himself.  Be whom the Lord makes you to be.

Lord, teach me to be what I can and should be when You lead me.  Let me neither boast about what I have no business boasting about, nor refrain from boasting when it serves Your purpose.  In all things, lead me to follow You and speak Your word of truth to all who will hear.  Guide me, O Lord, as I need to be led and help me learn to follow You in and through all things.

Lord Jesus, You who are more than able, but never did boast, and who instead carried the weight of all of our sins, lead me into humility that I would learn from You how to best live in each moment.  Let me follow Your example and go where You lead, do what You give me to do, and be Your faithful follower.  You know all that is needed and I need You to lead me now and always.  Amen.

“I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:27-28).

We live in a time where few need go through deprivation for the sake of the Gospel.  It seems the easier it is the weaker we become.  The question behind this is in the asking of how valuable is the Gospel to you?  Would you sacrifice everything for what Jesus gives, or is there a limit to what you would go through?  Jesus did not have a limit for you, do you have one for Him?

Lord, I do treat life and its circumstances on a conditional level and am only willing to go so far.  Help me realize the incomparable worth, no, priceless treasure, You give in grace.  Help me to see that nothing on this earth compares to what You offer in faith.  May I learn to not settle for the trivial things of this world in order to press on for the things You offer in faith and by grace.

Lord Jesus, You who made everything, gave it up for we who have nothing.  Help me follow You, knowing that what You give is of more worth than all the rest of creation put together.  Let me stop at nothing to walk in the light of the revelation You give through the Gospel.  May I walk humbly with You all the days of my life, seeking the Father’s will to be done in my life.  Amen.