How many times did Paul ask the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh?
Paul besought the Lord three times, asking Him to take the affliction away. God had permitted this thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet him and keep him humble, lest he be exalted above measure because of the abundance of revelations given to him.
Les explains that God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble, lest he become boastful and puffed up because of the abundance of revelations. Les notes we do not know whether it was a demonic angel, but God, as He did with Job, permitted the apostle to suffer an affliction; God did not inflict it but permitted Satan to buffet him. Paul besought the Lord three times, asking Him straight out to take the affliction away. Les believes it was an eye affliction, a typical Middle Eastern eye disease, though others would disagree.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.