“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.

“Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren.” (2 Corinthians 11:25-26)

Life in this world of rebellion is dangerous.  All the more so in Paul’s time.  Yet, throughout the ages there have been those who were willing to go to whatever length necessary to share the good news of Jesus.  To what extent will you go out to the world to share the faith that has been given you?  Will you remain silent, or will you share that Jesus has borne all our sorrow that we may live as we were created to live?

Lord, I hear the report and there are those who have gone to great lengths that Your truth may be shared.  I often sit quietly aside from what is happening in the world and do nothing.  Help me to do the part You have in mind for me that I would share and not consider the cost.  Lead me, O Lord, the way You know I need to be led.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy.

Lord Jesus, there are those who have come along that paid a great price with their own bodies to deliver the truth of the Gospel.  Help me to always be thankful for how easily I have received what others gave their lives to receive.  Lead me to rejoice in the company of the saints knowing I cannot know the cost which I too often take for granted.  Guide me into eternal thankfulness.  Amen.

“Are they servants of Christ? – I speak as if insane – I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.  Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes” (2 Corinthians 11:23-24).

We sometimes forget the price paid in order that we might have the Gospel.  People would rather pontificate and carry on as if it were a cheap nothing that we are talking about.  What we have been given through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is of more worth than life itself, for He has come to unite us with Him now and forever.  What does it take to reach your soul?

Lord, help me take seriously the reality You are sharing with me.  Let me not look at things in an economic way, bartering this for that, or who did what and which was greater.  Help me learn how to see things in relational terms that I would live loving You Lord and my neighbor as You have commanded.  Guide me in Your goodness to come into this place forever.

Lord Jesus, You suffered death on the cross bearing all of our sins.  No one can begin to imagine the suffering.  Help me to see, to the best of my ability, the cost, that I would never take for granted all that has been done so that I may have faith.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and grant the seriousness I need to arrive where You intend. Amen.

“To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.  But in whatever respect anyone else is bold – I speak in foolishness – I am just as bold myself.  Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I” (2 Corinthians 11:21-22).

What are the qualifications we use to think of others?  Are they the things we ought to be using?  Are not all image bearers?  Are not all loved by the Lord?  But only some will listen to the Lord and walk in His ways.  Do not use the value system of the world, but listen to the Lord and walk in His ways, and listen to those who will faithfully share the Good News of the Gospel.

Lord, I am often discerning where I ought not be and not discerning where I should be.  Help me, Lord, to live according to Your Word and will.  Grant that I would have new eyes to see things through Your eyes.  Lead me to not depend upon what this world says, but rather upon what You say.  Guide me in Your goodness to live into the life to which You have called me that I may live in You.

Lord Jesus, You are the light of life and You have come humbly to each one of us that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk humbly with You and look to You as the source of understanding.  In Your goodness, lead me to live out the Father’s will in my daily life.  Help me to now and always think and act faithfully, always according to Your teaching.  Amen.

“Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.  For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.  For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face” (2 Corinthians 11:18-20).

The world will take whatever it can and whenever it can.  We have been called to follow the Lord in and through all circumstances.  Come then and live into the life to which You have been called that You may abide in the Lord and He in you.  Circumstances come and go, but the call of the Lord is forever.  He will lift You up to face every circumstance, knowing all that is needed.

Yes, we all need to make the best effort we can, doing all that we are able to do in the flesh; but know that the Lord is always at work in you.  There are those who will take advantage.  There are those who will take and never give.  There are those who will not appreciate what is done.  Through it all, rejoice and be glad that the Lord has revealed to you His grace and mercy.

Lord, guide me in the way to live life.  There are many precepts I can follow, but You alone know all that is needed for me in this journey of becoming like Christ.  Guide me in Your goodness that I would now and always look to You as the One who leads.  Give me strength to meet all challenges that I may learn how to persevere.  In You alone is my hope, for You know all that is needed.  Amen.