2 Corinthians 12:7 A thorn was given me in the flesh… When I first went through out-patient treatment, years ago, I refused to accept that I had a persistent disease. I just could not accept that addiction was a part of who I was or that I was broken. I bought into the once-for-all deliverance…
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2 Corinthians 12:7 A thorn was given me in the flesh… I wrote yesterday of Paul’s thorn in the flesh. As I prepared to move on to the next passage though, I could not get that thorn out of my head. Was Paul’s thorn a disease? Are all of our defects diseases, or is it…
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2 Corinthians 12:7-9 A thorn was given me in the flesh… to keep me from becoming conceited… I pleaded with the Lord about this… But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I once knew a woman who was consumed by guilt over her…
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2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Several months ago, a reader told me that he could see a lot of healing going on in my writing. This implied, to me, that I was writing for the purpose of recovering from past wounds. This offended…
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2 Corinthians 11:14 …Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Why are the things that are bad for me so attractive? Why do I desire immediate gratification when I know it will hurt later? Though I know exercise, broccoli and prayer are good for me, what I want, is to sit on my couch,…
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2 Corinthians 10:5 …Take every thought captive to obey Christ. I must admit, I have destructive thoughts. In the privacy of my own mind, I have impulsive, angry, lustful, prideful and hurtful thoughts. This requires no effort. These impulses just naturally pop into my head. Though I can learn to arrest such ideas, they are…
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2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. One of my wife’s love languages is acts of service, which basically means that she really appreciates it when I help around the house. As it turns out, helping around…
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2 Corinthians 9:6 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Years ago, I met a patient who was convinced that he had bent the laws of physics. Overweight by a couple hundred pounds, he insisted that he did not eat anything. He swore that he had gone…
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2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. When I was in treatment, I came to hate the place. I needed it, but it felt like prison to me. Those around me, having been to prison, assured me that I was a cupcake and…
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2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. While in treatment for chemical dependency, I was taught that one of the pillars of recovery is to have a strong support group of family and friends. I know this to be true from my own experience of but I also know it to be…
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