Jesus, to keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with You Lord to take it away from me. But You 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 Your power may rest on me (2 Cor 12:7-9).

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations: Jesus, as I learn and pray for more and more Biblical principles, I can get to feeling like I AM a better, mature, advanced, and superior Christian. Teach me that this attitude is called, pride. James 4:6 (NIV) But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Make it clear to me that being opposed by God is NOT a good thing. So, show me that sometimes God has to allow me to experience something that just won’t go away easily.

There was given me a thorn in my flesh: Jesus, help me understand that almost everyone has one thing that presents a real challenge to them. Some people try to handle this issue by themselves; others try various programs of the world; there are those who try to just work around the problem; and, there are those who turn to You. Help me always be one of those who is looking to You for the solution to this problem with drugs.

A messenger of Satan, to torment me: Jesus, make it clear to me that the characteristics of my issue with drugs is, the source of it isn’t normal or natural. My issue with drugs is a spiritual attack against me. Satan is trying to take me down; but, You want to help me learn how to respond with mighty spiritual power.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me: Jesus, help me ALWAYS believe that prayer is a powerful weapon for getting healing, deliverance, miracles, and results from God. BUT, teach me what to do when such a powerful tool fails to bring results. JESUS, You said in Matthew 7:7 (NIV) “ASK and it will be given to you; SEEK and you will find; KNOCK and the door will be opened to you.” When You say: “ASK and it will be given to you.” and I ask and nothing happens, that is a real problem.

Jesus, if The Three Keys To All Of Christianity, ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK fail to produce results like it did with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, this gets my attention. Help me see that ASK is the bottom of the tools that I can look to for anything I need. Even if I am having problems remembering to ASK, there is nothing I can do but ASK You to help me remember to ASK. Show me that if ASK fails, I can’t find some principle that is below the ASK key.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me: Jesus, help me never doubt that ASKING is the way to get all those things I need from You. When I ASK, I am taking my eyes off of EVERYTHING ELSE and putting them on You. If I start looking for some other procedure, make it clear to me that I will be making a mistake. Just because the ASK key didn’t seem to work doesn’t mean I used the wrong tool. Show me that when Paul asked three times; he included the SEEK key which brought intensity, passion, and pleading into his asking three times. Teach me that a lot of the time it is just a matter of adding the SEEK or the KNOCK key to the ASK key. But, help me see that this was not the case for Paul.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect in weakness:” Jesus, weakness is NOT what I have been looking for when I am trying to get Your help. Eph 6:10 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Jesus, most of the time I only see the be strong words. I don’t realize I am NEVER going to be strong. I am going to be strong in You Lord and in Your mighty power; but, help me see that, that is the only way power is going to come my way.

MY power is made perfect in weakness: Jesus, help me clearly understand this illustration: If a water hose is full of dirt, obviously no water will flow through it. The hose may be attached to a faucet with plenty of water available; but, the hose isn’t empty. I have to be empty or weak so Your power can flow into me and through me to others.

Jesus, this can be very frustrating and scary for me; but, if I think I know something, can do something, or have something, that is the area where I can’t get Your power, healing, blessings, deliverance, miracles, and help.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, SO THAT Christ’s power may rest on me: Jesus, show me how Your power is going to rest on me. Show me that I must boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses. Help me understand that to be helped by You, I will have to get weak in that area of my life. I will have to ASK for You to help me give up, surrender, and yield to Your power in that area. So, what is going to help me diagnose my areas of strength, power, knowledge, confidence, esteem, and skills?

Jesus, show me that the problem I face with getting Your help WITH ANYTHING is understanding how life with You works. Teach me that there are six things I MUST understand about You so I can have a healthy relationship with You. Take me quickly over them so I will understand what You expect of me.

1. Jesus, empower me to learn that You honor my God-given free will all the time; You will only do what I DESIRE You to do.


2. Jesus, empower me to understand that You will only use Bible principles I am familiar with; if I haven’t STUDIED and learned a Bible principle, You won’t use it.


3. Jesus, empower me to realize that You won’t help me with anything I don’t PRAY and ask You to help me with; I have to pray and invite You into my situation with drugs.


4. Jesus, empower me to learn how to wait for You to give me the faith I need so I can BELIEVE and be sure You are ready to allow Your power to flow in and through me so I can win over my issues with drugs.


5. Jesus, empower me to do EVERYTHING based on God’s LOVE. If I try to get You to help me with something that is selfish and only beneficial to me, You won’t do it.


6. Jesus, empower me to alway be aware that I have to ACTUALLY do it! If I know it, understand it, and know how to apply it but don’t do it, I will fail to win over my issues with drugs; I must take FAITH-ACTION!

Jesus, show me that once I start living on the basis of these six Biblical principles, I will start experiencing a greater degree of Your power-relationship. Teach me that this power-relationship with You will set me free from problems and issues that are trying to defeat me.