I often use Ephesians 1:11 as an affirmation to myself when I am praying. It says, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

God’s purpose will never be thwarted! It was set before the beginning of time. Ephesians 1:4 says that He chose us, “…before the foundation of the world…” Ephesians 2:10 says that we are His workmanship, “…created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Acts 17: 26 says that He has made man to dwell on all the face of the earth, and “…has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.” Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me…”

Psalm 139:13 says, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” God’s intentions for you were established before you were conceived. What He began He will complete.

Here is the definition of infinite from the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary: Without limits; unbounded; boundless; not circumscribed; applied to time, space and qualities. God is infinite in duration, having neither beginning nor end of existence. He is also infinite in presence, or omnipresent, and his perfections are infinite We also speak of infinite space.

Paul instructed his son in the faith ~ remain blameless until the coming of the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:14-15 says, “Which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, to whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be hone and everlasting power. Amen.”

Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and his ways past finding out.”

David wrote Psalm 8. Verse 4 says, “What is man that You are mindful of him…”

One of my favorite verses is Job 42:2. It was Job’s humble statement after all he had been through in his hard trial. It was a summary from his encounter with the Lord speaking through a whirlwind. 

It says, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” You might refresh yourself with these truths by reading chapters 38-41. 38:2 says, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”

Unthwarted means to be unhindered. Let’s consider what it means for Almighty God to be Self Existent. You and I are created, but He is the Creator of all things. Revelation 4:8 recorded the words of the four living creatures as, “…Holy, holy holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

This one is on my refrigerator door. Job 11:7 says, “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?” Unlimited. Unhindered. No barriers. 

Undefeatable. Unconquerable. Unsearchable. He created us in His image, and chose us for intimate communion.

I was reading in Deuteronomy. This caught my attention. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses was charging the children of Israel to carefully observe every one of God’s commandments. He reminded them about the manna. In verse 4 how their garments did not wear out.

Verse 16 says, “Who fed you in the wilderness with manna…that He might humble you and that He might test you, and do you good in the end.” My mind immediately went to James 5:11. It was about Job.

It says, “Indeed you count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” I encourage you to slowly ‘eat’ this verse like you would a piece of succulent juicy fruit.

Chew it slowly and thoughtfully. Now consider your own trials. God, who created you in His image for relationship, has an end intended. What He allows always has His purpose stamped in it. It is our spiritual signet ring of untold blessings. Haggai 2:23. He intentionally chose us. John 15:16.

If you have ever trimmed a rose bush, you have experienced thorns first hand. Thorn-trials pierce. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” Verse 104 says, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”

James encouraged his readers to embrace their trials. James 1:3 says, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Our trials teach us endurance through leaning on and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit’s. He’s our Controller.

Verse 4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The Lord orchestrates our thorn-trials to vividly point out our lack. God’s word penetrates our heart ~ discerning our thoughts and intentions. 

The things of this world dull our senses, and distort areas of delight. What are you delighting in? Psalm 119:92-93 says, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.”

There is a poem written by a dear lady who lived with constant physical pain. Through her unrelenting pain, the Lord showed her the purpose of the thorn. Written by Martha Snell Nicholson. 

The Thorn

I stood a *mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me.”
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.                            

*mendicant is a beggar

Psalm 119:71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.” 

Here is a visual for you. In 2006 I drove my dad to a flea market in another town. We had the car loaded with magnetic gospel signs to give away for free. My dad sat on his walker and handed out gospel tracts.

I stood at the entrance, greeting people and handing them a tract. It was really hot, my back was screaming in pain, and I asked the Lord to help me. He gave me a picture of a box. Written on all four sides, “My Grace Is Sufficient For You.” I saw myself standing in that box. He gave me His grace-strength to endure.

Do you have a thorn in the flesh? Paul grasped what the Lord was saying. His next words can be ours as well. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “…Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The Greek word here for rest means to spread a tent over to dwell in.

His grace-strength endows us to do what He has called us to do and be.

Paul was called the apostle of grace. We currently are living in the dispensation of grace. 1 Timothy 1:12 says, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.”

Ephesians 3:7 says, “Of which I became a minister according to the gift of grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.” He described that power in Ephesians 1:19-20 as the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead.

Ephesians 3:8 says, “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Romans 5:2 says that those who have been justified by faith, “…have access by faith into this grace by which we stand…” 

Paul had a thorn in the flesh. He begged the Lord three times to remove it. The Lord’s word’s radically changed Paul’s understanding. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…”

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Gifts are received ~ not earned. The grace that we received for salvation, is the same grace that carries us through our journey of progressive sanctification.

If you will note, Paul closed everyone of his letters with a salutation of grace. Ephesians 6:24 says, “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” Sincerity is a word indicating transparency.

1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” What purifies our hearts? God’s word.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Peter’s benediction. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Romans 6:15 says, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” False teachings claim that it is alright to sin because you are under grace. It is a damnable heresy!

Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” 2 Peter 2:20 says, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”

The enemy of our soul is always seeking ways to derail our faith. We are soldiers. 2 Timothy 2:1 says, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Verse 3-4 says, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life…”

Hebrews 12:1 says about our race to, “…lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…”