Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

What expectations do you have? We often base our expectations around anticipation with obtaining pleasure in achieving an expectation with confidence based on faith and hope. Some common expectations we all have are for:

• Our children.
• Our job.
• Our marriage.
• Our dreams.
• Our leaders and mentors.

Paul’s prayer of blessing to the church in Rome was that they would live equipped in a common bond of unity in their relationships with one another as mature believers and not as immature believers. He had expectations for these Gentiles and Jews that made up the church, that they would be admonishing and building and cheering each other up to keep moving along in sharing the abundant grace they have been given in Christ, so they can be an impact on the world.

The NIV version states Romans 15:13 this way: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Have you given your dreams to God? Have you asked God what dreams He has for you in your work? Jesus brings rest and peace, and the devil brings restlessness, striving, and pain. Your identity is not in your success or failure; it is in Christ. I have to keep telling myself that over and over and over again. Our responsibility is to believe in the God who can, who is the great I AM. The Scriptures give us hope. Rom. 15:4 states: “. . . that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Christ in you is the hope in glory that we possess. As you go about your day you are in the presence of God. Colossians 1:27 declares: “ . . . the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” God himself, in the person of Christ, will be directly and personally with you. His presence assures us of our future life with Him when He returns. This is the competitive advantage you possess in your life. It is Christ in you, teaching you how to pray, transforming you as you read His Word (Rom. 12:1-2), instructing you with the wisdom you ask Him for, and walking with you every where you go.

May the God of hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, and may you be filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, so you will brim over with abounding hope!

This reminds me of the Newsboys song, “That’s How You Change the World.” Watch and listen to the words. Be aware of simple needs all around you in being a light in the dark. That is how we can change the world so that they may abound in hope too.

Romans 15:1-2: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

How has your week been going? Have you been working through obstacles or has it been free sailing for you? Have you felt weak or strong? Do you dare admit you may have felt God seemed silent? Maybe you have felt like Peter, boldly climbing out of the boat and walking on water to meet Jesus, but then realized the wind was coming up so started to sink because he looked down, and his eyes left looking at Jesus (Matt. 14:29-32). Peter was afraid and cried out: “Lord, save me!” Jesus lent Peter His hand and took hold of him and helped Peter get safely back into the boat and then the wind stopped. But Jesus did ask Peter as he saved him from drowning: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt (v.31)?”

The church in Rome was a very diverse group. There were Jews and Gentiles, slaves, and free people, wealthy, and poor, legalistic, and not legalistic in their Christian faith. Much like today. Paul addressed the Romans that those who are strong have a responsibility to lift up, encourage, tolerate, and support those that are weak in faith just as God had given them endurance and encouragement (Rom. 15:5). They needed to have unity and live in harmony with each other. We are to do the same as Paul also said in 1 Thess. 5:14: “And we urge you brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

The word “strong” in Rom. 15:1, is the Greek word dynatos. It means able, powerful, mighty, mighty in wealth and influence, strong in soul, to pick up and carry a weight. It involves being able to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience and excelling in something. Our struggles, God will use to build others up as God has so built us up with endurance, perseverance, and learning to trust and pray. It goes back to keeping the main thing the main thing.

Today the modern cultural mindset is to look out for number one – put yourself first and let anyone else fall where they may. But Paul counsels the people that true happiness and fulfillment in life – is get your eyes off of yourself and on Jesus – on heavenly things. Then you will find yourself lifted up and built up and able to walk on water as Peter did. Psalm 16:8 declares: “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Do you ever stop and examine, while amid an overwhelming problem, that you might be irrational (I admit, this just happened to me last week)? The emotions are flowing like Niagara Falls, and you cave in and wish for a quick escape. Your imagination takes over with all kinds of fears. That is when you need to seek out a friend, and get back into God’s Word and reflect upon God’s promises. That is what the Christian family does – bearing with those who are weak, giving a word of correction gently, when needed, and listening so they can help analyze and assist in sharing the Holy Spirit’s direction of truth as you hit the pause button for just a moment. One’s life is not always like an organized Excel spread sheet neatly planned out.

Out of the blue, while recently sitting and enjoying being at a Dodger’s game on a Saturday night, a text from one of my customers, who is a Christian popped up on my iPhone which said: “As you sleep tonight, I pray God will surprise you in the morning with breakthroughs and miracles. Amen!” Those words were a needed welcome reminder and surprise at just that moment, and God did just that for me on Monday morning!

So at the end of your day today, ask yourself the following questions:

1.How did Jesus show up?

2. What did He do?

3. Who am I obligated to encourage and build up today as Christ has done for me? Write it down in a journal.

I would love to hear from you in sharing these details in your life.

Jon Courson has said in his Application Commentary on Romans 15:1-3: “It’s as though the Lord gives us broad principles in the Word and then says, “See Me for further instructions. Talk to Me about specific application.”

The MSG version of Romans 15:2 says it this way: “Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” “

Lend out your dynatos like hand today to someone in need, just as Jesus has lent out His dynatos hand to you. Allow yourself to take your turn to be on the receiving end of needing to be uplifted. Don’t sit in guilt feelings of failure. “We all are either going into a trial or coming out of one” as our Pastor Todd has said many times.

Listen to What A Friend Lyric Video by Matt Mahler. Lay your burdens down as you listen to the words.

Romans 14:1-3 HCSB: “Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues. One person believes he may eat anything, but one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, because God has accepted him.”

We all are strong in some aspects of our faith and weak in others. Isn’t it tempting to pass judgment on those that disagree on a doctrinal stand we are dogmatic about? There is a tendency with some people in any church to argue about nonessential things in their view of what is and is not to be in God’s will. They delve into that Christian indoor sport of self-righteous judging and trying then to change the other person. The early church in Rome had this very problem that Paul was addressing regarding controversies within the church family. Paul had just admonished the church in Rom. 13:13 to put on the armor of God and to stop sinning by “quarreling and jealousy.”

Each person must examine for themselves if something will cause them to sin and hurt their relationship with Christ in any doubtful area. Paul has just instructed in Romans 13:13, to “walk properly. . . . and not in quarreling.” The HCSB uses the phrase “don’t argue, in Rom. 14:1, and the ESV uses the phrase “not to quarrel over opinions” with someone who is “weak in faith, welcome him.” They could have weak faith or are weak in their faith.

I believe convictions need to be upheld, don’t misunderstand me. We must act upon our conscience and discernment based on the Word of God and not compromise. But sadly how harmful fighting about differences of opinion, not involving the grace of God and salvation found in our Lord Jesus Christ, is really a waste of time and is the opposite of being a living example of the peace found in Christ.

Wise Warnings Against Quarreling:

Proverbs 17:14: “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

2 Timothy 2:14: “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God, not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.”

2 Timothy 2:24-25: “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.”

I think Paul’s chosen words in 2 Tim. 2:14 and again in verses 24-25 sums it up precisely in regards to quarrels within the Christian community. We need to practice and live as Christ did – with solid firmness when needed but basked in gentleness and love. Paul, in this setting, is awaiting his death. He is reminding Timothy that the purpose of being a disciple and apostle for Christ is to proclaim the gospel – not to argue but to pursue righteousness (v.22), faith, hope, and peace, from a pure heart.

If you were awaiting your death, what would be your final words that you want to impress upon your family and fellow workers? What would you want them to remember you for?

I love the MSG version of Romans 14:1-3:

“Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.”

We that are born again Christians have all been invited guests to Christ’s table, and all are welcome. I love the following verses found in the MSG which further declares: “So each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience. . . What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. . . It’s God we are answerable to – all the way from life to death and everything in between – not each other.” Romans 14:5-8 MSG.

The conclusion for us should be – accept and welcome all believers as our sister and brother in Christ. Show gentleness in differences of opinions and hold tight to your convictions of conscience. We all will have to give an account and answer for ourselves before God one day when we stand before God’s court of justice – the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10 and 2 Cor. 5:10). We all are required to have faithful obedience and on that day every Christian will not be judged for sin but are to be given awards for what we have done for God’s glory in obedience to Him (1 Cor. 3:13-15).

We need to keep our focus on seeking intimate fellowship with Jesus, and being in His presence – that should be our priority. In judging others (I admit I have done this many times), or if you have been wrongly judged, remember God’s grace is freely given. Others, or you, may not know the full story. But God sees and knows it all. God says: “I am with you. I will see you through.” Set your heart continually on heaven. Some day God’s righteous judgment will be perfect and justified.

Now it’s time to eat some broccoli and filet mignon and thank God for providing it!

Listen to a special YouTube pictured song from Mercy Me. It is titled Mix-Grace Got You. It is the one with Star Wars characters pictured on the first screen and is 3:38 minutes. Enjoy!

Romans 13:12-14: “The night is far gone, the day is at hand. So then let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Paul warns the Roman church that “jealousy” – besides the other sins that he lists, is a common but sinful desire and attitude that pollutes our hearts and minds. He says, “make no provision.” Don’t let it creep in! He doesn’t warn one particular gender over another, which I find interesting.

Jesus warns in Mark 7:2 that pride, coveting, and envy “defile a person.” They come from the heart, as all sin does.

Matthew 27:18 states that Pilot knew the Sadducees and the high priest were envious of Jesus’s authoritative ministry and His popularity with the people. He asked the people who they wanted him to release, Barabbas, the most notorious prisoner at that time, or “Jesus who is called the Christ?” Pilot, a Roman governor, was required to uphold the law. But he was also a politician – he had to get along with the people. Then, due to the sin of envy/jealousy, Barabbas was released over Jesus Christ to be crucified. Pilot never based his decision on integrity. Yet Jesus Christ had victory, in the end, proved by His resurrection, with more to come!

Think of putting on “the armor of light,” which is referenced in 1 Thess. 5:8 – “breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” – as the upgrade to your wardrobe you put on every morning in getting dressed. Clothes make up our identity. I love the color purple and gravitate to any clothes that are purple in my favorite clothing store, which is Chico’s. I have been known to be called “the purple lady.” Doesn’t wearing the right outfit help us, women, to feel more confident in our appearance? Chuck Swindoll has said: “The idea of “putting on” something, such as Christ (Gal. 3:27), “the new self” (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), or “the armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-17), reminds me of the old adage “Clothes make the man.”

As we dig deep into God’s Word, we become transformed to become more Christ-like in our thoughts and behavior. It is like wearing a bulletproof vest much like police wear under their uniform as it is a shield of protection and defensive armor. Psalm 28:7 declares: “The Lord is my strength and my shield.” Psalm 3:3 states: “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” This truth gave David the confidence to walk by faith and not by sight despite his threatening circumstances.

The word “provision” means planning ahead. God’s Word, hidden in our hearts and filling our thoughts will help us plan ahead to not give in to sinful desires and actions, such as jealousy and envy, amongst others. Chuck Swindoll has also said: “Plan ahead to make sin inconvenient, because the flesh is impulsive.”

Which impulsive stronghold of “desires of the flesh” is holding you back?

Listen to The Change In Me, Casting Crowns Lyric Video. Songwriters: Mark Hall/Jason Ingram. The Change in Me lyrics, Capitol Christian Music Group. Nov. 16, 2018.

Romans 12:16-18: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty. But associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

Chuck Swindoll has said in his New Testament Commentary on Romans: “Isn’t it interesting that both Jesus and Paul instructed us to watch our speech? The heart is a well and the tongue is a bucket. The lips can only draw from what is in the heart, and an untransformed heart contains an insatiable desire to protect its own rights.”

Isn’t it easy to be loving to others that think precisely or similar as we do? But what about those sandpaper type people that we have to interact with daily? That is where the challenge lies. There are people I am rubbing up against that I haven’t figured out if they are more a Goliath or a Saul in my life. My reactions to them are not always the best, lack love and patience, and then I suffer from pangs of guilt afterward and I am filled with regrets due to my natural response. Can you relate?

Paul’s advise to us in dealing with people that are bent to be argumentative and cruel, is just to let it go. We are to use the pause technique and not revenge. We are to look at ways to be kind to our enemies (Rom. 12:20). There are those times that we must defend ourselves (malicious lawsuits, slander, etc.), but God is our shield, defender, and protector. One’s own humility will speak volumes, but it has to be put into drive in order to move forward.

I had the privilege of listening to Joe Manby, CEO of Sea World, at a Work Is Worship seminar I attended. He stated that he runs his company on one principle: Love others. He stressed talking last in a conversation and listen to understand. When disagreeing tell the person “I want to understand your point of view. How did you come to that opinion?” He asked the following questions:

1. Who do you need to be kind to?
2. Who do you need to have a tough conversation with?
3. Who do you need to forgive?

Almost every speaker in the “Work Is Worship” videos reference the same principle of leadership: Love Others. They all mention showing love like 1 Corinthians 13 states. These scripture verses are not just intended for wedding ceremonies.

Showing unconditional love to those we work with, our family members, people we come in contact with, is the core of being Christ-like. If we forgive others the way Christ forgave us, that will dissolve grudges, bitterness, and requires loving that person despite their sin.

We all have a basic need of knowing we are valued. It goes back to that deep inner need to know we are loved, appreciated, exciting, and liked.

Who can you help bring out the best in someone else today?

How can you stop a retaliation when spoken or treated offensively?

What situation do you need to let go?

It all goes back to loving God more than anything else. He is the source of peace and love and not someone’s opinion of us. Paul told the Corinthians: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5 KJV. How our imaginations run fast and furious, don’t they? Often times our imaginations are not reality – they are a lie, and it is not coming from Jesus. This happened to me again this past week. I had to point the finger back to myself and say: “Let it go.”

Listen to Lauren Daigle’s song Rescue, from the album Look Up Child. Let the words of this song go with you today.

Romans 12:9-13: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

In the whole chapter of Romans 12, Paul packs a full punch of what is required in the life of all Christians and has practical application for those in leadership, in our work, in our ministry, and how we treat one another. Paul’s topic sentence in this section is his first sentence: “Let love be genuine.” We must practice Christ’s love with sincere and genuine intensity and oppose any compromise of immorality. Our speech and behavior must model Christ’s example in our integrity.

Paul states the marks of a true Christian in Romans 12:9-13 should be:

1. Genuine love for others.
2. Abhor what is evil – flee from it; hold fast to what is right.
3. Love one another with brotherly affection.
4. Outdo one another in showing honor and appreciation because they have been made in the image of God and because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
5. Be spunky and not lazy – have a spiritual zeal for the Lord.
6. Be fervent in spirit. Use your spiritual gifts passionately and enthusiastically.
7. Serve the Lord.
8. Rejoice in hope.
9. Patient in tribulation.
10. Constant in prayer.
11. Meet others needs.
12. Show hospitality.

When you ask someone how they are doing, you need to give full attention to their answer. If they say, “I’m hanging in there,” then ask what is going on? Tell me more! Show genuine concern and tell them you will pray for their needs. Warren Wiersbe states it so well: “Paul reminded them that they must enter into the feelings of others. Christian fellowship is much more than a pat on the back and a handshake. It means sharing the burdens and blessings of others so that we all grow together and glorify the Lord.”

In Romans 12:9, Paul talks about leading “with zeal.” Then in verse 11, he states: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit.” We are to have great passion, vigor, enthusiasm, and diligence for the cause of Christ. When life becomes challenging, we cannot allow our zeal for Christ, to grow cold due to discouragement. All of the great leaders in the Old Testament – Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and others were warned by God not to be afraid and not give in to discouragement and despair. “Moses reminded the people (Deut. 1:21ff) that God had told them not to be scared, afraid, anxious, distressed, intimidated, discouraged, hopeless, disheartened, or depressed in their situation regarding entering the hill country of the Amorites. The word afraid is used 122 times in the Bible; fear is used 90 times; discouraged has 13 occurrences; dismayed has 9 occurrences, and terrified has 8 occurrences (p.8 Taming the Lion’s Roar. Handling Fear in the Midst of a Trial).” Having grit, determination, steadfastness, perseverance (Rom. 12:12), trust and hope, must be held onto tightly. We have to continually look to God to be in charge of our crisis management.

Laziness would be the opposite of having a fervent spirit and having zeal. I think of the word – “spunky” – one who has high intensity, and a particular friend of mine comes to my mind when I think of the word “spunky.” I love her enthusiasm for everything she does! This is the type of model Paul is telling the people one needs to emulate in their actions of love for one another – be that in our workplace, people we interact with at church, and in our community. This type of testimony shines the truth of the gospel into the hearts of others.

Who can you seek out to show love to today to help encourage and promote that needs affirmation and appreciation? Do it with spunk. Be spunky – they may just need your humble and sincere love, and cheerfulness showed to them today just by you. Lead with zeal and be fervent in Spirit for God’s glory.

Two songs on YouTube to listen to today: Chris Tomlin – Nobody Loves Me Like You (Lyrics). Then listen to Lauren Daigle – Everything (Lyrics).

Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

I can remember memorizing Romans 12:1-2, when I was in sixth grade and I was in our youth group in the church I grew up in, in Sheldon, Iowa. The Youth Group was supposed to be for those in junior high and high school, but I was allowed to come as a sixth grader due to the small size of attendees in that age bracket within our church. It was a big deal for me as a sixth grader. I remember these verses that we each memorized made an impression on me, as Romans 12:1-2 is an encapsulation of what it means to live in a way that pleases God, which is:

• Embrace what God is doing and working in your life.
• Use discernment in not being merely a follower of our current culture without examining it against God’s laws, for God’s laws do not change. Test it for approval.
• Let God change the way you think. Let His Word transform you into being progressively changed for His glory. Ask God to help you see things as He sees them.
• Renew your mind by feeding on His Word so you can determine what God’s will is for you.
• Let the Holy Spirit be your counselor; give you courage, comfort, hope, and a positive perspective.

I love The Message version of Romans 12:1-2: “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

Our every day, typical, familiar, prevailing, regular routine, day in and day out needs to honor God’s character. I had to think about my sleeping being placed before God as an offering. When I wake up at night I should use that time to pray for the needs of others more. I also want my workplace skills, to be of benefit for the company and people I work alongside and mentor. That is also a means of worshipping God. If you are a person in the workplace you can use your professional skills to meet the needs of others. People learn about Jesus from someone who cares deeply about them.

Every morning when I get up, I write down on a piece of paper: “My Plans For Today. God?” I am amazed when I read the following morning, yesterday’s list, how my day changed from what I initially thought was important. Some tasks didn’t get done, and others popped up unexpectedly. But I know it is all under God’s control, as I place it up to God as an offering, for my heavenly Father to decide what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Every day is a worship experience with God when your whole ordinary life is yielded to the Lord. Warren Wiersbe has said: “If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer; if God controls your thinking you are a transformer.” God will bring out the best in you in the end as you present to Him your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, and will develop maturity in ways you hadn’t expected. You will then have developed a stronger faith and trust in God, learning wisdom, knowledge of God, endurance, perseverance, and hope.

How has God helped you to trust Him more this past month?

Listen to Newsboys YouTube song Symphony from their new album United.

Romans 11:33: “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Paul has been teaching about God’s grace and mercy in Romans 9-11, the importance of Israel accepting the gospel, and how much Paul’s heart’s desire and prayer was for them to receive this free gift of salvation. Paul frequently quoted from Isaiah throughout the book of Romans, because the Jews would have quickly understood those points. He equally preached to the Gentiles this gospel message that righteousness is not based on following the law of Moses, but in faith in Christ. Paul states the gospel is available for all and that no one is exempt. The responsibility lies on each person to respond to God’s mercy and grace.  He also talks about the foolishness of Pharoah’s hardened heart, and yet God’s sovereign plan still ruled. Paul quoted (Rom. 9:17,18)  from Exodus 9:16: “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” God used rebellious and stubborn Pharoah to show His power and Pharoah’s rebellion against God would be his own punishment. This is still true for mankind today. This choice could come to an end at any moment.

Romans 11:33 is Paul’s doxology and prayer of praise to God for the wisdom of His plan. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility go together. We are to be steadfast in our faith in Christ and be faithful in sharing the gospel with others. God is responsible for the results.

I am going for a visit to see family. This will be a different visit than the previous ones. It will be bitter-sweet. I know my dad especially will look much different than when I last saw him a year ago. His body is weak. Memories of growing up in Northwest Iowa are flooding my mind. My love for writing and teaching came from my Dad. He was the best makeup story creator and storyteller! He always told a makeup story every night before saying our prayers before my brother and I went to sleep for the evening. Those are happy memories.

My Dad had a passionate desire for God’s Word. He wanted everyone he came in contact with to know that Christ died for all and that there is nothing one can do to earn their salvation in Christ. Just repent, accept, and believe in Christ’s free gift of salvation, while my Mom is the prayer warrior between the two of them. Her prayers helped transform my life. I know my Dad, and my Mom has read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation almost every year. But recently, my Dad more than ever is yearning to walk the streets of gold in Heaven with Jesus without pain, and without needing a walker. My Mom is looking forward to being able to hear when she gets to heaven and then won’t be missing out on anything anymore.

Paul’s doxology declaration in Romans 11:33, my Dad will be singing up in Heaven soon. He sees the wonder of God’s riches and wisdom as something he always wanted to learn more about. God’s sovereign plan knows it all. His mercy is abundant and cannot be measured. His justice is perfect and beyond our ability to comprehend. God is in control has unmeasurable wisdom, grace, compassion, and truth, and love for all. He is the great I am. He is simply God.

Do you have a Pharoah in the way in your life today? What you cannot figure out, whatever doesn’t make sense, know that God has no limitations. Job never received an explanation of logical reasons he went through the trials he experienced. It was part of God’s plan and he encountered God Himself and that met his need in the end. Paul could identify with Job. He tried to explain the magnificence of the Holy Spirit and to reveal the plans of God, but his explanations came up short. Gramarly.com would not have been able to assist Paul in finding just the right words of descriptive vocabulary. Human reasoning has limitations. God does not. Paul then stood silent before the supremity and abundance of God’s sophisticated majesty in the doxology of Romans 11:33-36 – the benefits of God’s sovereignty.

This reading may seem a bit rambling compared to my other devotional writings. I feel a little like spaghetti right now. Do you ever feel that way too? But I do know God’s Word speaks truth, and God is my shelter, my shield, and protector. Many things are out of my control and won’t make sense. Remember what happened to Pharoah in the end. God always wins! This I do know!

Listen to the Newsboys – Symphony (Official Lyric Video) YouTube song and This I Know (Audio). Let the words bring joy to your heart over all the chaos.

Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I do not know what you have been going through this week, or will go through, but Romans 8:38-39 gives us the hope and reassurance that God’s power is not confined to any problem or situation. Nothing in the whole universe is outside of God’s control. Paul had experienced being in prison, persecution, famine, affliction, and the threat of martyrdom by the sword. Yet he viewed it all with an eternal perspective (Rom. 8:28), because He was secure in Christ, despite all the evil around him. That was Paul’s weapon against fear.

There is no circumstance God is not already aware of and didn’t already know was going to happen. He has a definite purpose for you as a wife, as a mother, as a woman in the business world, that no one else can do. You are it. God has given you talents and gifts to be of benefit. Your skills will glorify God right where He has placed you, as you use your God-given abilities to praise Him. Ask God to make you of benefit to your employer and to those you come into contact with daily and watch what a difference that makes!

When you are subjected to yet another trial, a problem that may at first seem overwhelming, you go through several emotional stations:

• Rejection – You feel shocked. How could this happen to me? How could they treat me like this? You question if this is at all part of God’s sovereign plan and then you might feel guilt and shame for thinking those thoughts. I have.
• Enduring toleration – You ask for a miraculous intervention. You ask how long do I have to endure this? Despair may take up residence. You try and suck it up, and you start to pray more.
• A light bulb turns on – As Jesus has been interceding for you all along, and as the Holy Spirit has been interceding for you according to the will of God (Rom. 8:26-27), you surrender and accept God’s providential control, little by little – baby steps. Jesus is our advocate and defender. Remember, it is Satan, not God, that accuses us.
• Fears dispelled by resting in God’s love. We are freed from defeat due to the security of God’s abiding love for us – nothing can separate us from God’s love, because of the way that Jesus our heavenly Father, has lavishly poured His love within our hearts to the point of overflowing (Rom. 5:5). Our path had a detour. Affliction has changed us and was a vital addition to our story.

Don’t we try to shelter our children in whatever way we can? There is this fine line in the parenting responsibility of figuring out when to let our children learn from their mistakes and when to keep them from happening at all. I often wished I could keep bad things from ever happening to our children. “But God does not shelter us from the difficulties of life because we need them for our spiritual growth (endurance, character, and hope. Rom. 5:3-5). In Romans 8:28, God assures us that the difficulties of life are working for us and not against us. God permits trials to come that we might use them for our good and His glory.” Warren Wiersbe. The Wiersbe Bible Commentary.

Have these verses written down on a card or in a journal, and highlight them in your Bible. The next time you hit a roadblock, reach for Romans 8:38-39. Write down your problem and date it next to these verses. As you continue to pray every day, keep looking down at these words. Pray that the promises and the truth of Romans 8:38-39 will penetrate your mind and rule in your heart. Pray that the Holy Spirit will heal all your wounds and that He will teach you what God wants you to know. The book of Romans is a letter of comfort addressed just to you. Trust Him. Praise God for the profit that will come from enduring this hardship. When God does work out the answer, write it down, date it, so you can reflect back on it later and realize God has been glorified in you! Celebrate that! Look how far you now have come!

Listen to Lauren Daigle Look Up Child (Audio) from her album Look Up Child.