Daily Affirmations - Day 6 - The Blessing of Weakness - Sufficient Grace

Day 6: Sufficient Grace

When I am weak, then I am strong

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:12-13 - NKJV).

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[Paul's statement], I can do all things,... must not be understood in the greatest latitude, and without any limitation; for the apostle was not omnipotent, either in himself, or by the power of Christ; nor could he do all things that Christ could do...

It must be [understood in its context]: the sense is, that he could be content in every state, and could know how to [respond] in adversity and prosperity, amidst both poverty and plenty...

[In fact], it may be extended to all [his] duties... both as a Christian and as an apostle, as to exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and men; to... care [for] all the churches; to labour more abundantly than others in preaching the Gospel; and to bear all afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions for the sake of it.

...He could willingly and cheerfully endure the most cruel and torturing death for the sake of Christ: all these things he could do, not in his own strength, for no man was more conscious of his own weakness than he was, or knew more of the impotency of human nature; and therefore always directed others to be strong in the Lord, and in, the power of His might, and in the grace that is in Christ, on which he himself always depended...

~ Gill's Exposition of the Bible (slightly edited for clarity with contemporary language).

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Oh Lord, Your divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of the God who called us by His own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).

When we are abased, You are enough, when we abound, You are enough.

And even should we find ourselves, like the apostle Paul, in a season of no rest...harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within (2 Corinthians 7:5) let us find our contentment in Christ.

Let us have the assurance that You are with us in every area of life, equipping us, empowering us, and enabling us to do all the things You have assigned to us.

Let us have true confidence that Your grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

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Let me but hear my Savior say,

“Strength shall be equal to thy day,”

Then I rejoice in deep distress,

Leaning on all-sufficient grace.

I can do all things, or can bear

All suff’rings, if my Lord be there;

Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains,

While He my sinking head sustains.

I glory in infirmity,

That Christ’s own pow’r may rest on me:

When I am weak, then am I strong,

Grace is my shield, and Christ my song.

~Isaac Watts

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