IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:
To review the list of names for prayer, please click here.
I am grateful to say the day started off well. I was walking by 5:38 and had thoughts forming for Thursday’s devotional before then. And as life would have it not everything went according to MY plans but all is well despite it. And now it is nearly 4:00 — here’s hoping morning thoughts will come together this afternoon.
A question arose this morning at Romans 8:35. Will it? Yes, that’s the question. Will it?
Lets read.
Romans 8:35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Good question, wouldn’t you say? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Will it? Will we let hard times ‘inspire’ us to doubt the love God is and has for us? To be sure our doubts do not separate us from Him; nor do they change His love for us; but don’t we sometimes allow ourselves to FEEL less loved? Don’t we often equate love with getting what we want from Him, when we want it?
So, will it? Will we let hard times drive us to feeling estranged from Him? Lets read on.
36. Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37. But (This is a really important word here — BUT) in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. This is some serious persecution, wouldn’t you say? Yet our Penman, Paul, confirms he is loved. Why is that? 38. For I am convinced (and there is the key. He is convinced; he does not doubt JESUS LOVES ME) that neither death, nor life, no angels, nor principalities, no things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So what it comes down to is Paul was convinced that getting his brand new car scratched to the metal in a parking lot, or finding every checkout lane has 3 or more in line waiting, or being excluded from the lunch click because he prays before eating, or having worked all day and there’s not a thing in this house to eat, or not having a ‘thing’ to wear to Mary’s party — none of this would cause him to entertain the idea that God was holding out on him. None of this would be reason enough for Paul to say woe is me I think I’ll just have a flesh fit.
Neither will it us … will it?
ABBA, You know You delighted me so this morning when You began to form this lesson as I read the TEXT. And I am so grateful that nothing will ever separate me from You and yet I know that I am susceptible to the darts of the Evil One who would have me believe this is not so. Who would have me believe that You quickly and easily turn Your Back on me and maliciously withhold good things from me just because You can. It’s the same old lie he spoke to Eve and many of us have bought into it even as she did. But Praise You JESUS we are learning better and we are grateful. Thank You. So I ask You know to encourage each IDOK and minister this Word as You see fit. And before we put this post to rest we pray for our IDOK Troops; for peace of mind and for safety and protection for spirit, soul and body of each one of them. And collectively and individually we pray for Your Will for all those named on our Praying For These list. We remember too Israel, praying for peace, praying for protection, praying that nothing You have given them will they give over to another. And we pray for America, asking You to forgive us and bring us to repentance. And praying for Your Church, asking You to revive us, refresh us and consume us with holy love for You and people, desiring above all that they be saved and we be useful to You and them in the rebirth process. And since Elaine comes to mind, I just lift her up; You are doing a wonderful work in her. Thank You, ABBA. My prayer is for her physical comfort as much as possible and for her soul and spirit to display You. All this we ask in the Name and Merits of JESUS. Amen and amen.
