In my most recent YouTube vlog, I had so much fun highlighting and sharing with you my favorite moments of the year. Even though all the memories I discuss are happy ones, let me be clear: I went through some unpleasant things.

This year, the enemy waged war against me and my family, and intensified his assault to a level I had never previously experienced. There were people impersonating me online, trying to swindle donors for money. They were creating false profiles to dupe the unsuspecting. There was a smear campaign put out against my family, and the authorities had to get involved to identify the suspect. The battle dragged on for months, and Satan hoped it would hinder me. He wanted to get me off course so I would abandon my Kingdom purpose.

But Satan, who is already defeated, didn’t get what he wanted. I stayed focused on my divine assignment, and this has been one of my most productive years ever. How could it be that the greatest attack produced the greatest blessings? Well, despite it all, I trusted God to defend, avenge, and protect me and my loved ones. And He did just that! I kept following after God, and I did my best to stay focused on Him, rather than the storm that was raging against me.

You know, 2018 taught me all over again that, in all circumstances, no matter what I go through, God’s grace is enough. His divine power working through me is sufficient. Everything I dealt with this year was not resolved right away. As much as I would have liked for things to get better quickly, it was not God’s plan to immediately pull me out of that storm. Instead of rescuing me from it, God chose to flex His power while I was in it.

He demonstrated to this old girl in Buffalo, New York that, in Him, I have all the power and grace I need to make it.

Today I was thinking about a Bible study lesson I taught at my local church last Wednesday evening. It was about Paul the Apostle. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, he talked about how he suffered with a “thorn” in his flesh. In verse 7 he says God allowed a messenger of Satan to “buffet” him in order to keep Paul humble. That word buffet is the Greek word, kolaphizō. It means to strike with the fist, treat cruelly, roughly, or with violence. So then, the Lord let the enemy violently attack Paul, not to harm him, but to help him.

In the midst of this satanic torment and harassment, Paul asked God to remove the thorn, but God didn’t. Rather, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Friend, there are some things you’ve been through in 2018 that, were it not for God’s grace, you wouldn’t have made it through. The Lord took care of you, nourished you, strengthened you, and encouraged you. The violent attack on you wasn’t to hurt you, but to help you learn to lean on God’s grace.

He is there for you through whatever, and nothing Satan tries will work.

As you prepare for 2019, adopt Paul’s attitude and mindset displayed in verse 10, where he said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Your flesh may be weak, but God, who lives inside you, is strong. Through the heartache, trouble, and pain, God is equipping you, sharpening you, refining you, and molding you into a powerful vessel of honor. The power of Christ rests upon you. It’s the same power Jesus spoke of in Acts 1:8 when He told the apostles, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”

In this passage, the word power is the Greek word “dunamis,” which signifies miraculous power, might, and strength. It is the very equipping power of God activated in the life of the believer. As long as you have received Christ and accepted the gift of the Holy Spirit, you, too, have dunamis. God’s miraculous power, might, and strength is at work in you.

So let Satan violently attack you all he wants. Nothing he tries will be effective. Come what may. Let the storm rage. No weapon will prosper, because God’s all-sufficient grace is strengthening you. You will thrive, overcome any obstacle, reach great heights, and achieve every goal that is in alignment with God’s predestined purpose for your life.

I’m a living witness!

To remind you that God grants all the power and strength you need to endure every test, I’m stirring Isaiah 40:29 NIV right into your cup of inspiration, which says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, if you feel yourself growing weary and faint, the Lord has sent this message to remind you of the power that resides within. You have everything you need to make it through. Hold your head up high. Go forth in the strength of the Lord knowing that the best is yet to come.

Now let’s pray.

God, thank You for helping me endure the attacks of the enemy. Your power sustained and strengthened me through every test. Going forward, I ask that, when I feel weak, You remind me of Your word that tells me Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Thank You for Your anointing that equips me to do all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!

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