Let's pray for Genesis
, trusting God's promise: "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear" (1 Cor 10:13). "Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials...the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James 1:2-3). Keep believing, He is faithful! 
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
—Romans 7:6 NIV
We could not, and cannot, keep the law of God completely. Trying to be righteous when one failure, one transgression, one sin, makes us guilty ensures that we cannot be righteous. We cannot be made righteous through works of law-keeping — or any other works-based attempts at being righteous! But, we have died to that false way of determining our righteousness. We've died because we surrendered that way of trying to be declared righteous when we confessed Christ as Lord and were baptized into his death (Romans 6:3-5). This death — our death to ourselves and our baptism into Jesus' saving death — frees us from the law. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the presence of God within us. This holy presence gives us the power to overcome sin and leads us in the way of righteousness. The Spirit ensures that we will be raised victoriously from the dead. Jesus' sacrifice is the pivot point of all human history, ensuring forgiveness when we are saved and ongoing forgiveness when we falter. The Holy Spirit is God's tuning fork that places us in tune with the will of God and then empowers us to live according to his will. We serve in the new way of the Spirit! We cherish the will and the character of God revealed in the "old way of the written code." We rejoice that we are now called to a higher standard and empowered to holier living through the Spirit of God.
Almighty God, thank you! Thank you more than I can adequately exclaim. Thank you for the gift of your Son, who died, was buried, and was raised in power to remove my sin and assure my victorious resurrection. Thank you for the gift of your Spirit, who leads and empowers me to discern and follow your will and conforms me to the character of your beloved Son. I yield my will to your gracious gifts so that you may have your way in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Continue reading...
—Romans 7:6 NIV
Key Thought
We could not, and cannot, keep the law of God completely. Trying to be righteous when one failure, one transgression, one sin, makes us guilty ensures that we cannot be righteous. We cannot be made righteous through works of law-keeping — or any other works-based attempts at being righteous! But, we have died to that false way of determining our righteousness. We've died because we surrendered that way of trying to be declared righteous when we confessed Christ as Lord and were baptized into his death (Romans 6:3-5). This death — our death to ourselves and our baptism into Jesus' saving death — frees us from the law. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the presence of God within us. This holy presence gives us the power to overcome sin and leads us in the way of righteousness. The Spirit ensures that we will be raised victoriously from the dead. Jesus' sacrifice is the pivot point of all human history, ensuring forgiveness when we are saved and ongoing forgiveness when we falter. The Holy Spirit is God's tuning fork that places us in tune with the will of God and then empowers us to live according to his will. We serve in the new way of the Spirit! We cherish the will and the character of God revealed in the "old way of the written code." We rejoice that we are now called to a higher standard and empowered to holier living through the Spirit of God.
Today's Prayer
Almighty God, thank you! Thank you more than I can adequately exclaim. Thank you for the gift of your Son, who died, was buried, and was raised in power to remove my sin and assure my victorious resurrection. Thank you for the gift of your Spirit, who leads and empowers me to discern and follow your will and conforms me to the character of your beloved Son. I yield my will to your gracious gifts so that you may have your way in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Continue reading...
