254/365: What's Inside Makes You Stronger

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7

May the victor of the physical battle go to the man who prepares himself to be stronger, faster, and more equipped to endure with stamina. While on top for a little while, his vessel is only strengthed from the outside... he has a shelf life.

May the victor of the spiritual battle go to the man who empties himself of anger, venom, selfishness, pride, and doubt. Becoming empty and fragile, God fills him with peace, wisdom, determination, focus, nobility, and honor. The man is strengthed from the inside...he endures.

Empty the toxins. Fill your clay-jar-life with God's pure truth so you can win the day - and give God the credit.

GO DEEPER: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Next Step: Are you holding anything inside which may be compromising the integrity of your spiritual vessel?

Zach Fuhrer

on 09/12/2023 at 04:28 AM

I just turned 40 the end of last month and I’m still ran by fear but I keep trying every day I keep begging God to change my heart and seeing I’m not the only one helps I jus wanna be closer to God I want a good relationship with my wife n kids n I wanna do Gods I see one jar but on one side is satan trying to put as much junk and temptation in there and on the other is our loving Heavenly Father if only we can allow Him to fill it up and not satan maybe we can triumph in His strength I hate the son in my life I hate the flesh and I don’t wanna do the things I do but I keep doing them n the things I wanna do I don’t ….. when will it all stop

Zach Fuhrer

on 09/12/2023 at 04:20 AM

I’m a sinner and that the king of sinners when I go to church and take communion I cry and sometimes ball at the thought of how truly wicked I am even though God has begun a work in me I feel like it’s a work that is 40 years in the wilderness

Ashley Jarvis

on 09/11/2023 at 06:41 PM

I couldn’t stop the phenomenon of craving for alcohol, God did. I couldn’t get rid of resentments I had for others, God did. I couldn’t rid myself of the anger built up within, God did… etc. I had to stop trying to do these things, on my own. The things listed, are like oil in my clay pot. The only way for me to completely rid myself of all these vile things, was to continuously pour into myself the pure “water” of His Love and Grace. Quickly, bad habits and even addictions began to leave me, the more I focused on God and prayed for His Love to fill me. The world still splashed oil everywhere, and the enemy places thoughts in my mind, but at any point I like throughout my day I can pause, and get my daily fill of Truth. Each morning is best, then as many times a day I need.

Ron Childs

on 09/11/2023 at 06:40 PM

Hello all my brothers who are on the journey towards Godliness The analogy of the fragility clay pot stood out to me. I pictured the pot only fragile as to what is inside of it. If it is full of only air or smoke (ungodly lies and non biblical thinking)it is truly fragile. If the vessel is full of something solid (God’s truth and Godly victory)it then is strong and not vulnerable to outside attacks This message encourages me to continue ,with the help of the Holy Spirit and Christian brothers, to continue to empty out of my vessel the godless harmful junk and replace it with God’s solid truth. God’s blessings to all

Hugo

on 09/11/2023 at 06:39 PM

THANK YOU GOD! I began reading the verse at the beginning of today's Kickstart, and it did not resonate the way the verse in the KJV version did. Naturally, I have my Bible at all time scripture is referenced and I started reading at 2 Corinthians chapter 4 beginning to end. Gentleman this struck me in a way that was an exact affirmation of some correct choices I've started to make again; so please if the verse in the Kickstart doesn't strike you as meaningful one day, please open your Bible and start to read the entire chapter. This was such a blessing to be led to by the Lord our God.

Ethan Rogers

on 09/11/2023 at 05:09 PM

Today's reading is so true. I have backsld lately, neglected my meditations, and not talked to God as much as usual. Skipped church even. I feel the bad trying to take over me in the form of anger,resentment, and wanting to get back at people. Thank God that I am back on track. Today is day 5 with no cigarettes. This is only possible with GOD. Loss of peace within my mindset affects everything. I want to trade my clay vessel for armor. It also takes work and perseverance.

Old Dude

on 09/11/2023 at 04:07 PM

The strongest men are not found in the gym. They are found on their knees.

john larson

on 09/11/2023 at 02:29 PM

emptying the vessel is hard….i’m a proud man and am pretty sure that if i emptied myself of all fear and doubt i would be pretty proud of myself. i guess that when Paul said we must die to ourselves, this is what he meant. End our desires, fill up with Gods!

Brandon Pembleton

on 09/11/2023 at 02:22 PM

This reading reminds me of my journal nearly two years ago when I first stepped into recovery and finally began surrendering my life to Gods will. My jar was filled with all sorts of vile things. At least half of it was anger, a fair bit resentment, rage, a ton of fear, ego and so on. Recovery taught me I needed to empty myself out of these and that they are nearly all rooted in fear of something. It taught me that thy will be done. As I turned towards God my jar began to slowly fill with something it hadn’t seen in years. Hope and love. Not the superficial well wishing type either. The folks in there didn’t know me but genuinely cared about me. It was a little weird at first and I had to get adjusted to it. Because of that I leaned into God more and more. Importantly after my life had changed I kept going on the path to God and didn’t go back to doing it my way. I learned I must add to the jar everyday otherwise just like water all that love and hope will evaporate if I don’t continually add to it. Thank you God for the hard times that brought me to You and this way of life that I love so dearly. I love you God amen 🙏

Robert McFaddin

on 09/11/2023 at 12:14 PM

Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life. Proverbs 18:10. —————————————————————- Tommy I appreciate your positive attitude. God is good! ALWAYS. It doesn’t matter what comes our way or where we find ourselves. God is good. He is faithful. I pray we all remember what is shared here today. The battle rages on. We can either armor up and engage the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit or get trampled again and again. There is no hiding from this. God is good and to Him belongs ALL power, glory, and honor. HALLELUJAH! Rak chazak Amats (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Barry LaForce

on 09/11/2023 at 12:08 PM

Good morning my brothers. Yes this sure is a interesting topic. Lord make me a pot, jar of honour for you. God bless and keep all of you. Stay strong. Amen.

Tommy Williamson

on 09/11/2023 at 11:07 AM

If we allow the enemy to fill the vessels of our hearts and mind with evil thoughts then who has control of us? The enemy of course. Look at the list of things the devotion today shows us that the enemy loves to fill us with, of these while all of them are evil one of the strings things in that list is doubt. Many of us, myself included have let doubt take control of us. Doubt comes at us from so many different ways such as doubting are walk with Christ, our strength to overcome, even our own belief in ourselves to be worthy to live. I have seen what I have considered Christians that started doubting themselves and ended up turning from Christ into total ruin. So please my brothers watch what you let you heart, mind, spirit and soul become filled with. The Lord had chosen each of us to be strong and powerful warriors. Let none of us ever let evil things fill our vessels but let our vessels stay filled with things that are good. Even last night I became confronted by evil in the form of the ride that my daughter had promised me that I would have to my cardiologist appointment today, she came in a said that if she is not down by 9:30 this morning that it would be best for me to cancel the appointment. At first I got very discouraged by it but instead I am holding strong that even if my own family won’t keep their promises that God will provide a way for me to make it to my appointments. If not to todays then to those in the future. I will not the enemy wi.

254/365: What's Inside Makes You Stronger

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