DAILY ENCOUNTER ~ Wednesday, Sept. 06/00

by Dick Innes ACTS International http://www.actsweb.org Partnering with NCF Ministries: http://www.ncfliving.org

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[1] DAILY CHALLENGE

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1Corinthians 10:12, NIV).

It has been said that, “Everybody either has a problem, lives with a problem, or is a problem!”

How true this is. Everybody has a problem, a challenge, or a difficulty to live with. And if they don’t right now, just wait a while.

In my experience, the people who claim they don’t have any problems are often in denial and sometimes have the biggest problems of all. People in denial can’t be helped.

It’s only as we admit our weaknesses, struggles, failures, and problems can we get help from anyone, including from God.

You’re probably familiar with the following prayer:

Dear Lord,

So far today, I’ve done all right, I haven’t lost my temper. I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent. I’m very thankful for that Lord. But in a few minutes, I’m going to get out of bed. And, from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help.

While this is a tongue-in-cheek prayer, there is much truth in it. Without God’s help, none of us can live a life that will fully glorify him. True, some may be able to do much better than others, but those of us with “feet of clay” surely need the Lord’s help to manage our difficulties and to live the Christian life.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I surely do have feet of clay and need your help to overcome my problems, weaknesses, and the sins ‘that so easily beset me.’ Also, please help me to learn how to accept and manage creatively the challenges in my life that can’t be changed. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”