Beyond Our Ability
Prayer Tool – February 2012

We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.  Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  ~ 2 Corinthians 1:8-9

There are two very common myths heard in today’s Church that are dangerous, and will actually hinder our prayers:

1. “When all else fails – pray”
2. “God will never give you more than you can bear”

Belief in these myths is, in essence, stating

• There are many activities I must first do in my own strength before going to God.
• That God is limited by my own strengths.  
• That my strengths are the most important determining factor to what God can and cannot do in my life, or what He will or will not do.  
• That I can personally handle everything that ever has happened or will happen in my life.

The common thread in these statements is me and what I can do, not God and what He can do.  If I am relying on myself, why do I need to call out to God in prayer?  

While God does promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 not to tempt us beyond what we are able to withstand and providing us away of escaping temptation, Jesus also promises in John 15:5 that apart from Him we can do nothing.  In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 Paul claims the pressure was “far beyond his ability to endure” and in Psalms 107:27 the sailors are brought to “their wits end.”  God shares these events with us as reminders that we get our strength from relying on Him.

A Place to Start

Let’s begin to change these myths into truths from the word of God:

1. Before anything happens (failure or success) – I will pray.
2. It is the strength of Christ living in me that allows me to bear all things.  I will completely rely on Him.

For the month of February, in your storm of trials, call out to God for yourself by inserting “I/me/my” in the blanks and for others by inserting the names of the people on the prayer list in the blanks.

Praying Scripture (Psalm 107:28-30)

   On-Going Concerns

In Service to Our Country

Safety, Strength, Courage and Peace for: