STP - True Joy!

I just got back from STP on wednesday and I wanted to share one of my favorite things I learned. It came from a talk from Ku Ho (sp?) the campus director at UCI. He's given talks at Sunland conferences before, but it was great to see him in a smaller setting of about 20 people. He spoke on Philippians 4 and it was amazing. He started with vs 12 which says:

"I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." Philippians 4:12 (NASB with my emphasis)

Have you ever wondered the answer to this secret? Its a big deal to be content in "any and every circumstance" I want to know this secret. Where is the answer given? In the very next verse:

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

There it is, there's the secret. Ku Ho even mentioned that it leaves us still wanting a little more. What do we do with this? How can I get a better understanding of God's strength in me? That's when Ku Ho applied the beauty of cross referencing. Look at these verses:

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NASB)

Woohoo! There's the answer! God's power (strength) is perfected in my weakness! So how am I able to be content in any and every circumstance? Through God's power, which is made perfect in my weakness. Ku Ho then stated that if we focus on God's strength for our weaknesses that we can learn to be content. He added that if we aren't praying that we cannot be aware of our weaknesses.

This was huge for me. Praise God for His truth!