🧎🏽♂️"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.'” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong," 2 Cor 12:8-10. "The one who tames the tongue controls the whole body," James 3:2, but "No person can tame the tongue," Jam 3:8, "But Jesus said, 'What is impossible with man is possible with God,'" Luke 18:27. "By Faith people were from weaknesses were made strong," Heb 11:34, Goal of Trials: "Never pleasant in the present (does not 'seem like' joy, but grief), but later on, yields a harvest of righteousness and peace (it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness) to those who have been trained by submitting to discipline," Heb 12:11, What to Say and How to Say it (the Best Way Possible), Jn 12:49, "The LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with Gracious words, Comforting words," Zech 1:13.
"While Confessing My Sins and The Sins of My Nation," Daniel 9:20, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land," 2 Chronicles 7:14...
🙇🏻 Father, thank You for giving mercy and grace in times of need, Heb 4:16, past and now in present. Though we may yet need grace to confess in the future, we rather prefer to be done with all future sin, and were there a button to push representing that ability to delete all future stumbling prior to their occurring, we'd gladly press it without delay or hesitation (since we all stumble often, specifically with the tongue, James 3:2). Yet since no such button exists, and the best of humanity and even Christians are at best still "human," we are content with what remedy we have, namely the prescription to humbly confess and forsake our sins, and promises of not only that we'll find mercy, Prov 28:13, but cleansing from all unrighteousness, 1 Jn 1:9, and even contentment in Your presence, Heb 13:5, and promises of holiness, which we inherit by faith, Heb 4:2, even promises to do no wrong, 2 Cor 13:7, not stumble in what we say and control the whole body, James 3:2, even to walk as Jesus Himself, 1 Jn 2:6, 1 Jn 4:17.
We continue the remedy of our misuse of the instrument of the tongue we were given to glorify God and edify others, in confession and repentance, for sanctification both a one-time act and an ongoing work of participation with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, Matt 3:8, Phil 2:12-13, 1 Tim 4:16, so we agree with Your admonition to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other that we may be healed, James 5:16 -- maybe that's how through boasting in our weaknesses 2 Cor 12:9 by faith from weaknesses we are made strong, Heb 11:32-34. So in obedience to Your teaching through Hosea, we, "Take words with you, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, 'Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips as bulls" Hos 14:2.
📝 Lord, I've missed Your warnings, not hearkened to Your Voice, Missed Your Spirit's leading, haven't taken the way of escape in every occurrence, 1 Cor 10:13... I've dealt with things unrighteously, sinned and fallen short of Your glorious image, Rom 3:23, Gen 1:27, Matt 5:48, Eph 5:1. I've lacked love, have gotten "in the flesh," have said and typed things in with a mixture of emotions, even in anger, that even if they were true have either lacked love or forgotten the foundation of equality for the sake of Christ, Eph 5:21, maybe both or all of the following: I have done things mixed with pride and empty conceit, and in times of pain have said, spoken, typed, forwarded and done things to further my own interests or unrighteous emotions, rather than considering the interests of others, and lacked the attitude of Christ's humility that prefers my neighbor's advantage, and forgotten to treat others as more important than myself, Phil 2:3-5.
Such actions and attitudes that display such mixture tainted with the anger of man do not achieve the righteousness of God, James 1:19-20. Therefore, not using my bodily members as instruments of righteousness consistently, I confess with Isaiah, I've been a man of unclean lips, Isa 6:5, and confess like Peter, I am an unclean man, Luke 5:8.
Since our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them, transgressing and denying Yahweh, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood, Isa 59:12-13, at time, "Surely I have spoken of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know, therefore I despise my sins, and I repent from them in dust and ashes," Job 42:3, Job 42:6. Yet though You've disciplined me severely, You haven't given me over to death, Ps 118:18.
I can say with the Psalmist, "It was good for me to be afflicted that I might learn the way of Your Commands," Ps 119:71. Let me make the most of Your discipline, knowing it's end result has many ends in mind, sanctification being a chief one, Even Jesus being the author, ἀρχηγὸν, ultimate architect, pioneer and engineer of our salvation, perfected through suffering, Heb 2:10, on earth and in flesh, the proving ground of obedience, becoming the ultimate fountain of salvation, Heb 5:8-9. Surely, there is One found Worthy, Rev 5:9.
Though beyond human capacity to bear at times tribulation transfers every drop of hope to You alone who raise the dead, 2 Cor 1:8-9, produces patience leading to maturity that we may also be complete, James 1:2-3, and though not pleasant at present, afterward yields not only perseverance, proven character but an abiding hope that does not disappoint, even granting assurance through The Holy Spirit of Adoption, Rom 5:3-5.
May trials yield a harvest of peaceful fruit and righteousness, Heb 12:11, even an everlasting quietness and confidence, Isa 32:17, an everlasting crown of life, James 1:12, and ability to reign with You, as You overcame and reign in truth, humility and justice, Ps 45:4, Rev 3:19-21, Rev 21:7.
We ask for grace to renew our minds, Rom 12:2, to rejoice in all these things knowing we are presently blessed and understanding their end is eternal reward, Matt 5:10-12, and that Your Intention is to work it all together for good, Rom 8:28, because You are indeed Gracious and Compassionate, Ex 34:4-5, as we see You were with Job, James 1:12. Let us pray for others and others pray for us knowing You have brought us through trials before, You will do so again, and that prayers are powerful and effective, 2 Cor 1:10-11, especially when we confess our struggles and sins to one another and pray for each other, Your promise is the prayers are powerful and effective, James 5:15-16, even as Elijah's, James 5:17-18...
Continue abiding in Jesus Christ and His Words, John 15:1-8, and His Life Giving Words of The Holy Spirit, John 6:63, His Name being the only Name given under heaven by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, He being the one God and Mediator between God and Man, 1 Tim 2:5, in The Power of Attorney given by us His Position and Command, Mt 18:18, we ask in Jesus' Name, John 14:13-14.