Author: Beth Duncan

Romans 8:26a In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

Prayer is something that I often struggle with, even now. My prayers, like most of me, are very informal. I’m not a “kneel by the bed” type of gal (though I see nothing wrong if that’s your favorite prayer position). I often pray short “breath prayers” like “Jesus, please,” especially when my heart is hurting or I just don’t know what to pray.

Romans 8:26b We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 

 But verse 26 reminds me that “the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans,” which makes me feel much better about my breath prayers. The Spirit uses wordless groans, yet God knows our hearts. He knows what we need, even when we don’t know ourselves, even when we can’t articulate the words.

Romans 8:27a And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit… 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the power of prayer, for the ability to pray. Thank You that prayer is conversation with You, conversation that we can have any time, any where, in any way. Thank You that You know our hearts when our words fail. Amen.

Romans 8:27b …because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

Life can sometimes be excruciating. Physical pain, mental pain, emotional pain–sometimes we feel them all at the same time. But this world is temporary. The pain and loss of this world will not be able to touch us when we reach our eternal glory.

Romans 8:19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  

However, this world is currently all we know, so sometimes it’s hard to comprehend that those griefs that gut us so completely in this realm will not hold that same power once we reach our eternal glory. I can’t wrap my head around it, but I know in my bones that that is not how God’s eternal glory works.

Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope

Precious Savior, Life is hard. Grief is hard. Thank You for the hope “that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Thank You that this world is not our home, that these griefs and disappointments are not eternal. Help me to live hopefully, rooted in You. Amen.

Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 

As I was reading today’s verses, I thought, “I wish my default was trust in God. That would make life so much easier.” And while I do sincerely believe that, my immediate thought was, “The fact that I cannot let go of my fear and simply trust Him is what keeps coming back to Him, trying again and again and again. If it were easy to let go and trust, would I eventually lose God in the mix?”

Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

The short answer is that I don’t know, but that’s a real danger. The longer answer is that because I cannot let go of fear, because trust is not a default but something I have to work on and fail at and work on some more, it will NOT become an unconscious default. I am keenly aware of my deep need for my Savior. There is joy in that deep need and that awareness. I cannot do life on my own and don’t want to.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

Precious Savior, You recreated my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for who I am, even the bits that frustrate me. Thank You for my deep need for You. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

As I have mentioned–more than once, I’m sure–this has been a tough week. But I’m realizing that this has been a tough week in the flesh, and I’ve allowed it to become a tough week in all ways because I have put so much focus on all the fleshly physical things that are going wrong.

Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 

But the reality of life is that there will always be something dealing with the flesh–with humans and the trudge of daily life–that isn’t as it should be. It’s kind of the nature of this life-on-earth gig. It’s not our home. We won’t ever be fully comfortable and at peace here. But if we set our minds on things above, not earthly things (Col 3:2), we can stay focused on what’s important, we can stay rooted in Christ’s peace.

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Precious Savior, Thank You for allowing me to work through the mess of this week, to realize that my focus is misplaced so that I can readjust and refocus on You alone. Help that–focus on You alone–to become my default so that I can sink my roots down into Your Spirit so I can grow in Your peace and love. Amen.

Romans 8:12-13 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Have a blessed day.

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…

Do I live as someone who faces no condemnation? The answer is a resounding NO. At the moment, I feel beat-down, beleaguered. Definitely not the attitude of one who lives victoriously in Christ.

Romans 8:2 …because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

This is a tough time of year, sure. This week has been rainy and frustrating, absolutely. But I am caving under that weight. I seem to have forgotten (or ignored? Jesus, Help me!) the fact that God is my Refuge and Strength.

Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh….

Precious Savior, Forgive me for my whiny, defeatist attitude. Help me to rest in You and to do what needs doing. Help me to remember that with You, I am more than a conqueror. Always. Amen.

Romans 8:4 …in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Have a blessed day.