2 Corinthians 12:8-10 My Strength is made perfect in weakness

I have been reading a book called Heart and Mind. An amazing digression on the four gospels, examining mainly the purpose of their writings, that is to what group of believers and the main themes in their writing. It is by no accident that I am reading this particular book, recommended to me by a friend and colleague I have know since my teens, who together we are working out our salvation in the true sense. Recently in my daily readings I read 2Cor 12:8-10 and immediately the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about my life and how when I (we) are willing to confess our weaknesses to one another (as James instructs us to do), that God in what can only be described as our lowest points in life is strongest. When we are willing and able to confess our sins and acknowledge that we cannot or simply unable to do or be what is required, then Christ is able to do exceedingly above and beyond what we could hope or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

In fact the opposite of this is also true, that when we in our own strength, intellect, power, abilities, gifts and more, assume they we can do or be,  that is when Christ is unable to intervene and help us. God wants us to acknowledge him in all our ways and in everything that we do, especially when we pretend to do it His name.

The writer of heart and mind Dr Alexander Shaia speaks of when in Mark's gospel, the ladies who go to the tomb the day after Christ's burial, are greeted by what we assume is an angel are instructed to meet Jesus in Galilee, not so much a place but a region and a metaphor for the wilderness. Yet in the book, the writer explains that the women don't run to meet their master, in fact their is no account in this gospel that they ever did, instead they flee in fear of the message given by this man dressed in white robes. If they were to meet Jesus at a particular place, then surely they would have did as asked instead of fleeing. Yet if Jesus was truly saying that I will meet you in the wilderness/desert place, alluding to Jesus being their in our weakest hours then this would confirm also what Paul says, in our weakness He is strong. When we are confronted with life's obstackles, trials and difficulties, this is when Jesus appears and is strong in our lives. A little like Jesus being present with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire of the book of Daniel.

Yesterday, as my wife and prayed together, my wife prayed "there two or three are together in unity there is Christ in the midst of them". When we are praying together, humbly, that is with contrite hearts before our God, not coming instead with pride or arrogance, this is when King Jesus is present and working mightily in our lives. We as the church of Christ Jesus in this world and amongst this generation need these kinds of prayers, it is when we pray with these kinds of hearts that our prayers are truly "effectual & fervent coming from a righteous" heart as James says.