welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread the devotional for today titled beyond words was written by Mark tahan
 Thomas Aquinas was one of the church's most celebrated Defenders of the faith yet just three months before his death something caused him to leave unfinished his Summa theologica the massive Legacy of his life's work while reflecting on the broken body and shed blood of his savior Aquinas claim to see a vision that left him without words he said I can write no more I have seen things that make my writings seem like straw before Aquinas Paul to had a vision in 2nd Corinthians he described the experience weather in the body or a part from the body I do not know but God knows was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things
 Paul and Aquinas laughed us to reflect on an ocean of goodness that neither words nor reason can express the implications of what Aquinas saw left him without hope of finishing his work in a way that would do justice to a God who sent his son to be crucified for us all continue to write but he did so in the awareness of what he couldn't Express War finish in his own strength and All the Troubles Paul encountered in service to Christ he can look back and see in his weakness by grace and goodness beyond words and wonder
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verses 1 through 10
 I must go on boasting although there is nothing to be gained I will go on to visions and Revelations from the Lord I Know a Man in Christ to 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know God knows and I know that this man weather in the body or a part from the body I do not know why God knows was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things things that no one is permitted to tell I will boast about a man like that but I will not boast about myself except about my weaknesses even if I should choose to post I would not be a fool because I would be speaking the truth but I refrained so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say or because of these surpassingly great Revelations therefore in order to keep me from the
 conceded I was given a thorn in my flesh a messenger of Satan to torment me three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me 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 power May rest on me that is why for Christ's sake I Delight in weaknesses and insults in hardships and persecutions in difficulties for when I am weak then I am strong
 would you pray with me Father in Heaven may we experience a touch of your hand today that leaves us speechless and hungry for more of you thank you Lord It's in Jesus name that we pray amen
 thanks for listening today my name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries