DAY 21
Sunday, November 3
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13
But he 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 Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
PROMISE OF STRENGTH
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Gideon (Judges 6-7). God takes the obedience of someone, who felt super inadequate, to defeat the Midianite army. He took what was an army of 30,000 Israelites and sifted it down to just 300 men. God did this so that the Israelites would recognize GOD was the one who defeated them, not by Israelites’ strength! Guess what? God led them to easily defeat this army, which seemed logistically impossible! It’s such a great story, I hope you get to read it.
God’s desire from the beginning was always to walk with us, to protect us, to strengthen us, and guide us, yet we struggle to allow God to walk with us. The Israelites had a constant struggle of self-sufficiency, but Gideon walked with the Lord and humbly allowed God to lead him. In doing this, God gave such a beautiful victory to His people.
My personal testimony is full of many big battles that God has faithfully walked me through and strengthened me in my weakness. Praise the Lord! However, this summer I found myself in a particular time of weakness where God reminded me that He isn’t here to just fight our big battles. He wants to fight our everyday battles too, and those are the ones I tend to try to work out on my own. How easily I can forget that I don’t have to do life on my own, and that God promises His strength in my weakness! That’s a big deal!
As we read in the story of Gideon, God is not bound by our human efforts, which are limited. Instead, His resources are unending! He sees the beginning and the end, and this God who has limitless strength desires to walk with us and strengthen us. I am so thankful!
PRAYER:
Oh God, I am so thankful that we can trust you to be our strength, that in weakness you promise you will be strong! Thank you that you didn’t leave it up to us to fight battles we face alone. Instead you desire to walk with us and strengthen us. Help me to trust your direction and be willing to obey your leadership even when it doesn’t make sense! Remind me that your strength is far greater than I can fathom, and remind me of your character when I often forget. Amen.
Pray For Our Church: Take some time to pray for Pathway today—the people who make up our church, the staff, the ministries, etc. Ask God to work in and through us.
Pray For Our City: Pray for the people of our community and ask God to be at work in our hometown.
Pray For Our Nation: Pray for our nation—its people and its leaders. Boldly and specifically make your requests, then submit those desires to God’s will. Express your trust in Him.
REFLECTION:
By Bethany Bracht
Sunday, November 3
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13
But he 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 Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
PROMISE OF STRENGTH
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Gideon (Judges 6-7). God takes the obedience of someone, who felt super inadequate, to defeat the Midianite army. He took what was an army of 30,000 Israelites and sifted it down to just 300 men. God did this so that the Israelites would recognize GOD was the one who defeated them, not by Israelites’ strength! Guess what? God led them to easily defeat this army, which seemed logistically impossible! It’s such a great story, I hope you get to read it.
God’s desire from the beginning was always to walk with us, to protect us, to strengthen us, and guide us, yet we struggle to allow God to walk with us. The Israelites had a constant struggle of self-sufficiency, but Gideon walked with the Lord and humbly allowed God to lead him. In doing this, God gave such a beautiful victory to His people.
My personal testimony is full of many big battles that God has faithfully walked me through and strengthened me in my weakness. Praise the Lord! However, this summer I found myself in a particular time of weakness where God reminded me that He isn’t here to just fight our big battles. He wants to fight our everyday battles too, and those are the ones I tend to try to work out on my own. How easily I can forget that I don’t have to do life on my own, and that God promises His strength in my weakness! That’s a big deal!
As we read in the story of Gideon, God is not bound by our human efforts, which are limited. Instead, His resources are unending! He sees the beginning and the end, and this God who has limitless strength desires to walk with us and strengthen us. I am so thankful!
PRAYER:
Oh God, I am so thankful that we can trust you to be our strength, that in weakness you promise you will be strong! Thank you that you didn’t leave it up to us to fight battles we face alone. Instead you desire to walk with us and strengthen us. Help me to trust your direction and be willing to obey your leadership even when it doesn’t make sense! Remind me that your strength is far greater than I can fathom, and remind me of your character when I often forget. Amen.
Pray For Our Church: Take some time to pray for Pathway today—the people who make up our church, the staff, the ministries, etc. Ask God to work in and through us.
Pray For Our City: Pray for the people of our community and ask God to be at work in our hometown.
Pray For Our Nation: Pray for our nation—its people and its leaders. Boldly and specifically make your requests, then submit those desires to God’s will. Express your trust in Him.
REFLECTION:
- How have you seen God's faithfulness and his promises lived out today?
- Write 2-3 points of gratitude, and thank Jesus for these things.
- Spend time praising God for who he is, what he has done, where he is at work, and what he has promised.
By Bethany Bracht
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer
Categories
Recent
Thrive Thought: Spenders and Savers
June 16th, 2025
Thrive Thought: Careers, College, and the Affordability of it All
May 13th, 2025
Thrive Thought: Careers, College, and the Affordability of It All
May 13th, 2025
Thrive Thought: Godliness and Contentment
April 2nd, 2025
Thrive Thought: God's Kingdom—the Wisdom of Giving to Others
March 10th, 2025
Archive
2025
May
2024
January
21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Daily Email Signup21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Welcome21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: First, Seek God21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: The Why21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: The What21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: The How21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1Thrive Thought: A Year of Gratitude and Generosity21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 221 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 321 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 421 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 521 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 621 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 721 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 821 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 921 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1021 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1121 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1221 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1321 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1421 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1521 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 1621 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2024: Day 17
February
October
21 Days of Prayer: Fix Our Eyes on Jesus – Daily Email Signup21 Days of Prayer: A Note from our Senior Pastor21 Days of Prayer: Day 1 (God Is Creator)21 Days of Prayer: Day 2 (God Is Holy)Thrive Thought: A Faithful Steward21 Days of Prayer: Day 3 (God Is Love)21 Days of Prayer: Day 4 (God Is Eternal)21 Days of Prayer: Day 5 (God Is Sovereign)21 Days of Prayer: Day 6 (God Is Faithful)21 Days of Prayer: Day 8 (God Comforts)21 Days of Prayer: Day 7 (God Is Just)21 Days of Prayer: Day 9 (God Redeems)21 Days of Prayer: Day 10 (God Provides)21 Days of Prayer: Day 21 (Promise of Strength)21 Days of Prayer: Day 20 (Promise of Wisdom)21 Days of Prayer: Day 19 (Promise of the Holy Spirit)21 Days of Prayer: Day 18 (Promise of Peace)21 Days of Prayer: Day 17 (Promise of Transformation & Sanctification)21 Days of Prayer: Day 16 (Promise of Forgiveness)21 Days of Prayer: Day 15 (Promise of Eternal Life)21 Days of Prayer: Day 14 (God is Present)21 Days of Prayer: Day 13 (God Protects)21 Days of Prayer: Day 12 (God Guides)21 Days of Prayer: Day 11 (God Heals)
2023
February
21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Welcome21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Seeking God21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: The Why21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: The What21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: The How21 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 121 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 221 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 321 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 421 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 521 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 621 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 721 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 821 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 921 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1021 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1121 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1221 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1321 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1421 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1521 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1621 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1721 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1821 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 1921 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 2021 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Day 2121 Days of Prayer & Fasting 2023: Now What?