“For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced” (2 Corinthians 12:20-21).

Who are you now and what were you before the Lord awakened you to His presence?  Do you live life with expectations and demands, or do you know that the Lord is Lord of all.  There is that in-between place where the battle of faith takes place.  Will you ultimately surrender to the Lord, or will you continue to insist that it be your will that is done.  God grant that you come into His will.

Lord, a life of faith in this age is not easy.  I want what I want and I want it as I want it.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may surrender to the truth that You are Lord of all.  Remove from me those sinful things that get in the way that I may now and always live according to what is right and pleasing in Your sight.  Save me, Lord, from myself and free me to be what You are making of me.

Lord Jesus, You have accomplished what needs to be done that we might be free to follow You.  Help me to not turn back, but see instead that in and through You is all hope and a future.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always walk in Your footsteps and live into the life to which You call me.  Through all things, help me keep my eyes upon You.  Amen.

“All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ; and all for your upbuilding, beloved” (2 Corinthians 12:19).

It is not for you, but the Lord.  This is a consistent theme in Scripture.  Our motivation should be the Lord and not others.  Yes, we love others and serve them, but it is the Lord first whom we serve.  The priority makes a difference for we can easily fall into the thinking that our aim is to please others rather than simply to love, trust, and fear the Lord above all things.

Lord, help me to learn to have the right priorities in al things.  I am easily swayed by circumstances and what others think.  Help me to look to You in all things and for all things.  You are the One through whom all things have their being and You know our hearts better than we ourselves.  Be the One who guides me in all things that I would not get caught up in this world’s insanity.

Lord Jesus, You came that we might be freed from the trends of this world.  In You we find our hope.  Lead me, Lord, in the hope You give that I would do all for, through, and with You.  Let me not so much worry about the why, but upon doing that which is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Guide me to learn to live out life in such a way that Your goodness is evident always in me.  Amen

“Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?  I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?” (2 Corinthians 12:17-18)

Look at the fruits.  Did not our Lord tell us to do this?  We often get caught in the trivial things and do not pay attention to the whole thing.  What does the story tell you?  If you do this, it becomes fairly clear and quite quickly.  Paul isn’t asking or taking, he is giving.  Jesus isn’t just demanding; He is empowering. The Gospel doesn’t ask us just to resist, but to die to sin.  Look and see.

Lord, I am caught by fancy words and feelings of the moment.  Guide me, Lord, that I may be led by truth and not feelings.  Help me to see through the lies of this age in order to accept, receive, and live truth.  Let me not just count the cost, but be willing to pay whatever the cost is to live truthfully in this age.  Through all things, keep me close to You, and the way You have established for true life.

Lord Jesus, through You alone is all hope.  None of us can do these things on our own.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk humbly with You all the days of my life.  Keep me from being deceived.  Help me to be bold by simply being whom You have created me to be.  Let me not capitulate to those who are wrapped up in the lies of this age, but instead live in truth and love.  Amen.  

“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?  But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit” (2 Corinthians 12:15-16).

This has really not changed.  Either Paul is lying, or else he is speaking truth.  Either Jesus died for our sins, or else it is all made up.  It is not a matter of your deciding what is true, for truth is truth whether or not you believe it.  Instead, it is about seeking truth while it may be found.  Why would someone put up with so much grief if they were simply trying to sell something?

Lord, open my mind to understand truth when I see it. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may learn to know it when I see it.  Let me not be taken in by all of the garbage that is out there.  Lead me into truth that I may stand firm in what You have already revealed and walk in the way of eternal life.  Let me not be a burden, but carry the burden You give me to carry that I may grow in Your likeness.

Lord Jesus, You have come to grant life and to lead the way of how to live life.  This world is filled will all kinds of options which are no true options at all.  Keep me from the broad ways that lead to destruction that I may be guided by Your narrow way which is true.  Help me hold fast to all that is true and right and live according to these principles which You have given me.  Amen.

“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.