Relationship

Romans 8

The Apostle Paul continues to focus on what it means to be in a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today in this reading verse 27 and 34 rise to the surface of my heart, mind, and in my spirit. “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will…Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us.”
Wow, the Holy Spirit, - the Spirit of Truth lives within each of us who are saved the grace of God through Jesus Christ’s forgiveness bore on the Cross – prays God’s will for us to the Father as we pray!! The Holy Spirit translates, if you will, God’s will for us as we pray!! Did you get that? Have you ever worried whether or not you were praying for or in the way of what was best (I certainly have)? Have you ever not known how to pray, or just didn’t have the words to verbalize the cry of your heart (I certainly have)?
Well, God knew that we would wonder and worry and not have the words…when we are in relationship with God, when we have been born-again by the Spirit through the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit has our back (from living inside of us)! He translates our moans and groans, our lack of understanding, our not knowing prayers – according to the will of God, which we know is best. Thank You Holy Spirit!
Then as if that wasn’t enough, we are told a few verses later that Jesus Christ is also interceding for us from His position of ultimate authority - from the right hand of God! Have you ever wondered from where the term, “my right-hand man” comes? You know what it means – the right-hand man is indispensable and is as powerful as if it was coming from the one in charge himself, right? So, Jesus Christ also has our back!!
The next time you aren’t sure what to do, or which way to turn, or what is right…remember that as you turn to God in prayer, the Holy Spirit is translating even your imperceptible moanings into God’s will for you and for whomever you are praying! If that isn’t enough to recall, remember too that Jesus Christ is already praying for you before the Father!
“Thank You God! Thank You Holy Spirit! Thank You Jesus! Help us to remember that You are praying for us, and Your prayers are right and true! Thank You as we are in relationship with You, we can count on You! Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

Next we will consider from where the world’s concept of ‘who you know matters’ in getting ahead in this world comes!

God's Will Be Done

Leviticus 23
Acts 21

Food for Life:

Leviticus 23
God recounts through Moses the reasons for and ways to celebrate holidays instituted as Israelites - set apart, holy people, from the Egyptians and pagan cultures around them. There was balance between confession and celebration - confession for disobedience, celebration for who God is and what He has done. One author asks, 'What do your holidays look like? What traditions have you set forth? What do they signify?" Excellent to think about. Perhaps if your holiday celebrations do not reflect what you truly value, you might start some new traditions and ways to celebrate - ways that are God honoring, filled w/thankful and grateful hearts for Who God is and what He has done!

Acts 21
"The Lord's will be done" (21:14). Powerful words. Jesus said that this is what He came to do, God's will. The believers with Paul tried to persuade him not to go to Jerusalem because of the prophecy that he would be bound. The believers took the prophecy and came to the conclusion that it meant that Paul shouldn't go. Paul did not discount the prophecy, he disagreed with their conclusion based on the prophecy. Finally, they said, OK..."The Lord's will be done."

Have you been there? Realizing the heart ache, pain, conflict, and trouble involved in a decision or action - and then surmising, therefore, that the decision which would entail this trouble, should not be carried out? Paul's example, recognizing the trouble he would encounter - even to his own life being threatened - did not deter him from following through on what he believed the Lord had for him. Even in the face of influential peer pressure! Peers that were God-honoring and who loved Paul!

"The Lord' will be done." The believers with him concluded that they could not deter Paul, so they said, "The Lord's will be done." Sometimes this is said from the heart, like Jesus' in the Garden of Gethsemane - He struggled with His Father, asking that the cup be taken from Him, yet what he wanted most was for the Father's will to be done.

There are times "The Lord's will be done" is said in resignation and defeat...like, "I've tried everything I know how, it isn't working, so, oh well...God's will be done!"

See the difference? The Scripture indicates that the believers, when they saw Paul would not be dissuaded, "gave up"...and said, "The Lord's will be done." We assume that this giving up was not in defeatist resignation because they clearly were not running from persecution themselves in living/dying for Jesus' sake...but God only knows their hearts. God knows our hearts. I confess that I've had times when my, "God's will be done" proclamation and prayer has been more from a feeling and thought of resignation and defeat, than from a heart filled with faith that God's will, will be done and it is best!

And then I ask God to help me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit in a way that will renew and strengthen my faith for the journey. How about you? Have you 'fallen' into this trap? If so, please join me in asking God, "to fill us Lord with Your Spirit freshly and anew; increasing our faith in You...that our hearts can proclaim, "none the less Lord, Your will be done, not my own!"