The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Thirty Five
God's Power In Your Weakness
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God loves to use weak people. Everyone has weaknesses. In fact, you have a bundle of flaws and imperfections. The more important issue is what you do with them. Usually we deny our weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them. This prevents God from using them the way He desires.
God has a different perspective on your weaknesses. He often acts in ways that are the exact opposite of what we expect. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for his glory.
Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.
God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact, He is drawn to people who are weak and admit it. If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done, because none of us is flawless. That God uses imperfect people is encouraging news for all of us.
A weakness is not a sin or a vice or a character defect that you can change. A weakness is any limitation that you inherited or have no power to change. It may be a physical limitation, like a handicap, a chronic illness, naturally low energy, or a disability. It may be an emotional limitation, such as a trauma scar, a hurtful memory a personality quirk, or a hereditary disposition. Or it may be a talent or intellectual limitation. We're not all super bright or talented.
God is never limited by our limitations. In fact, He enjoys putting His great power into ordinary containers. God will use us if we allow Him to work through our weaknesses.
Admit your weaknesses. Own up to your imperfections. Stop pretending to have it all together, and be honest about yourself. Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses. You might make a list of them. If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and know who you are.
Be content with your weaknesses. Contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. There are several reasons to be content with our inborn weaknesses. First, they cause us to depend on God. Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on Him.
Our weaknesses also prevent arrogance. They keep us humble. God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check. A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God.
Our weaknesses also encourage fellowship between believers. While strength breeds an independent spirit, our limitations show how much we need each other.
Most of all, our weaknesses increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. We are far more likely to be compassionate and considerate of the weaknesses of others. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts. The things you're most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.
Honestly share your weaknesses. Ministry begins with vulnerability. The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others. Vulnerability is risky. It can be scary to lower your defenses and open up your life to others. When you reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations, and fears, you risk rejection. but the benefits are worth the risk. Vulnerability is emotionally liberating. Opening up relieves stress, defuses your fears, and is the first step to freedom.
Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths:rather, it is being honest about your weaknesses. The more honest you are, the more of God's grace you get. You will also receive grace from others. Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we are naturally drawn to humble people.
This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths. If all people see are your strengths, they get discouraged. But when they see God using you in spite of your weaknesses, it encourages them. Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.
At some point in your life you must decide whether you want to impress people or influence people. You can impress people from a distance but you must get close to influence them, and when you do that, they will be able to see your flaws.
Glory in your weaknesses. Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace. When Satan points out your weaknesses, agree with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness of ours, and for the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness.
Tomorrow: Purpose #5---You Were Made For A Mission
God has a different perspective on your weaknesses. He often acts in ways that are the exact opposite of what we expect. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for his glory.
Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.
God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact, He is drawn to people who are weak and admit it. If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done, because none of us is flawless. That God uses imperfect people is encouraging news for all of us.
A weakness is not a sin or a vice or a character defect that you can change. A weakness is any limitation that you inherited or have no power to change. It may be a physical limitation, like a handicap, a chronic illness, naturally low energy, or a disability. It may be an emotional limitation, such as a trauma scar, a hurtful memory a personality quirk, or a hereditary disposition. Or it may be a talent or intellectual limitation. We're not all super bright or talented.
God is never limited by our limitations. In fact, He enjoys putting His great power into ordinary containers. God will use us if we allow Him to work through our weaknesses.
Admit your weaknesses. Own up to your imperfections. Stop pretending to have it all together, and be honest about yourself. Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses. You might make a list of them. If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and know who you are.
Be content with your weaknesses. Contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. There are several reasons to be content with our inborn weaknesses. First, they cause us to depend on God. Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on Him.
Our weaknesses also prevent arrogance. They keep us humble. God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check. A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God.
Our weaknesses also encourage fellowship between believers. While strength breeds an independent spirit, our limitations show how much we need each other.
Most of all, our weaknesses increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. We are far more likely to be compassionate and considerate of the weaknesses of others. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts. The things you're most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.
Honestly share your weaknesses. Ministry begins with vulnerability. The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others. Vulnerability is risky. It can be scary to lower your defenses and open up your life to others. When you reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations, and fears, you risk rejection. but the benefits are worth the risk. Vulnerability is emotionally liberating. Opening up relieves stress, defuses your fears, and is the first step to freedom.
Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths:rather, it is being honest about your weaknesses. The more honest you are, the more of God's grace you get. You will also receive grace from others. Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we are naturally drawn to humble people.
This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths. If all people see are your strengths, they get discouraged. But when they see God using you in spite of your weaknesses, it encourages them. Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.
At some point in your life you must decide whether you want to impress people or influence people. You can impress people from a distance but you must get close to influence them, and when you do that, they will be able to see your flaws.
Glory in your weaknesses. Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace. When Satan points out your weaknesses, agree with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness of ours, and for the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness.
Tomorrow: Purpose #5---You Were Made For A Mission