Start by going to the source! Have you ever reached the end of yourself and realized that you don’t have enough? You discovered you don’t know. You find that you don’t have it. Go back to the source of it all and you will find it there. Where do you go when you are facing a challenge? Where do you turn when you don’t know where to go? What do you do when you realize you don’t know and don’t have it?
Trust God to be your source rather than your own understanding:
In times of uncertainty and lack, the Bible encourages us to turn to God as our ultimate source. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) advises, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When you find yourself at the end of your knowledge or resources, it’s an opportunity to acknowledge your dependence on God. Seek Him through prayer and meditation on His Word. Instead of relying solely on human wisdom, trust in God’s infinite wisdom, knowing that He has the answers and directions you seek.
Turn to God to be your source of provision, He knows what you need before you ask:
Philippians 4:19 (NIV) reassures us that God is not only aware of our needs but is also our abundant provider: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” When faced with challenges and uncertainties, take a moment to surrender your worries to God and ask for His guidance. This involves recognizing that you may not have it all, but God does. By placing your trust in Him, you invite divine provision into your life. Be open to receiving God’s resources, which may come in unexpected ways, and embrace the assurance that He is faithful to provide for your needs.
We need a relationship with God to realize how He is our source:
Turning to God as the source for answers and direction also involves cultivating a relationship with Him through consistent prayer and seeking His will. James 1:5 (NIV) encourages believers to ask God for wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” This verse emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our limitations and seeking God’s wisdom. When you don’t know the way forward, humbly approach God in prayer, seeking His guidance. Through a deepening connection with Him, you can find the strength, answers, and direction necessary for every aspect of your life.
Divine Guidance in Times of Need:
In the journey of life, when we come to the realization that we don’t know it all or have it all, the invitation is to go to the source—God. As Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages, trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding leads to straightened paths. Philippians 4:19 assures us of God’s abundant provision for our needs. Through consistent prayer and seeking His wisdom, we cultivate a relationship with the Almighty, acknowledging our dependency on His guidance. In moments of challenge and uncertainty, turning to God becomes the anchor for our souls.
Putting it into practice:
The key application is to prioritize prayer and seek God’s wisdom daily. By regularly connecting with Him, we acknowledge our need for His guidance and align ourselves with His purposes. Through prayer, we invite God into every aspect of our lives, trusting Him not only for answers and directions but also for the resources we lack. As we consistently seek the source, we find assurance that God, who knows all and has all, is faithful to lead us and meet our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
This year I am using the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas and applying it towards being dads. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to get to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this one for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit: DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: TRUE STRENGTH
Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Therefore, let’s be the dads who turn to God as our source of strength because we know that His grace is sufficient for us. Furthermore, let us be the dads who, in addition, cease trying to be macho and tough, and instead recognize that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. Therefore, we don’t have to pretend to be something we aren’t. Finally, let’s be the dads who know and choose to boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
What’s a Paradox?
Today’s Devotional speaks to the word “paradox” as it gets started. Looking for a refresher or reminder, I did a search and found this insight into what a paradox is.
A paradox is a statement or situation that appears contradictory or self-defeating, but may reveal a deeper truth upon closer examination. It often involves seemingly conflicting or contradictory elements that, when considered together, challenge common assumptions and expectations.
One classic example of a paradox is the statement, “This statement is false.” If the statement is true, then it must be false, but if it is false, then it must be true, creating a logical contradiction.
Paradoxes are common in literature, philosophy, and everyday life, and they often serve to provoke thought, encourage reflection, or highlight the complexity of certain concepts. They can challenge conventional wisdom and prompt a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in various situations.
New Testament Paradoxes:
Today’s Devotional pushes us to realize some of them found in the new testament.
Paradox of Losing to Gain:
Matthew 16:25 (NIV)
Explanation: Jesus teaches, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” This paradoxical statement underscores the concept of self-sacrifice for the sake of Christ, suggesting that true life and purpose are discovered through surrendering our own desires and ambitions.
Paradox of Greatness through Humility:
Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV)
Explanation: Jesus says, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This paradox challenges societal notions of greatness, asserting that true greatness is achieved through humble service to others.
Paradox of Dying to Live:
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
Explanation: Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This paradoxical concept emphasizes the idea that true Christian living involves dying to one’s old self and allowing Christ to live through them.
Paradox of Wisdom in Foolishness:
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (NIV)
Explanation: Paul states, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” This paradox challenges conventional ideas of wisdom, suggesting that God’s wisdom often appears foolish to the world, yet it surpasses human understanding.
Today’s Devotional has one more paradox to consider and it is our verse:
It comes through the Apostle Paul and the paradox of strength and weakness. Today’s Devotional explains it this way: “When Paul found himself to be weak, he asked God to remove the weakness so he could once again be strong enough to serve. But instead of removing the weakness, God gave Paul the grace to experience the strength and power of Jesus Christ in his life.” Have you as a dad ever felt that way? How did your respond? Did you turn to Jesus to be your source? Were you able to learn from it and through it by humbly coming before God and get to experience the power and strength of Jesus?
Today’s Devotional calls out to us how “we become strong (in Christ) as we recognize our own human weakness and depend more on Him and less on ourselves.”
These paradoxes are meant to prompt reflection, challenge worldly perspectives, and encourage a deeper understanding of the mysteries of faith. They highlight the transformative and counter-cultural nature of Christian beliefs.
Ready to turn to Jesus as your source today and do it God’s Way?
Today’s Devotional closes with this challenge: “Today, exercise, eat healthy, sleep well. But remember that your true strength is the strength of Jesus.”
Real true faith is man’s weakness leaning on God’s strength.
D. L. MOODY
