Episode 24: Romans 5:1-5
Transcription
Today’s verse is Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Let’s pray together
Today, God, I want to acknowledge that the only reason I can have peace in my life and throughout eternity is because of You, because of Jesus. You provided the only way forward, the only way to true life. My sins in thoughts and actions and words were standing in the way, blocking happiness and hope, but You did not stand idly by while I floundered in them. You committed the ultimate sacrifice and there is nothing more important than that. I don’t ever want to lose sight of that, so please let the Cross be in my mind and on my heart all of the time.
Because we don’t want to just be saved for eternity, we want to walk out our faith here. We want to taste the victory You achieved in our every day lives. It brings joy and hope and peace that we could never reach on our own. There is still so much darkness and brokenness and hatred among us and we would be lost today, despite the ultimate victory, if we did not have You to look upon and to give us strength.
We can learn from You, LORD, from the trials we walk through. We would remain such small people if we did not have the experiences that build endurance in us. What tame hearts we would have and what petty friends we would be. God, build lion hearts in us. Build generous rivers of giving in us. We want to be the best possible version of ourselves. You created us for a purpose, to be something, and I want to attain that for myself. I want everyone I know to attain that.
I think we would live our lives ashamed, sad we were not more, regretting the people we could become, if not for You. Because You bring us hope, you shed it abroad in our hearts, so we are overflowing with it. When we have hope, we can keep fighting through the battle, we can laugh in the face of the darkness. We cling desperately to Your Spirit, who provides all grace to us.
Jesus, I am weary today. I believe many are weary. We live with shades of gloom and persecution and fear and trials and division. I want to give up and sink to my knees and stop fighting. Jesus, lift me up. Pour out Your Spirit, Your hope, and give me the strength to keep going. Please do this for all who can hear my voice. Do it for us, help us keep fighting for You, help us keep shaping our characters into Your perfect vision of who we are meant to be, who You formed us in the womb to be.
Thank You that You will answer this prayer. Thank You that nothing can keep You from coming to our aid. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, who makes all of this possible. Thank You that we do not have to be afraid. Let us go forth and fear no darkness today.
I pray all of this in Your name. Amen.
