EXPAND TO READ: ROMANS 1 (HCSB)
PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN (verse 16): There have been many times since coming to faith that I have felt ashamed, uncomfortable, or just flat out not intelligent enough to share the gospel or that I’m a believer in the moment. I am not proud of this and am trying my best to change these ways. Unfortunately, I do not believe I have ever asked for forgiveness for this, yet here is a verse convicting me of it. Please forgive me, Father. Forgive me for not walking and speaking proudly of the gospel in my life. The gospel is Your power of salvation, and I must be able and willing to use it as my personal tool to glorify You through all things that I am, say, think, and do.
PROMISE (verse 17): Your gospel is such a powerful tool for us to learn from. Additionally, You promise us that in the gospel, Your righteousness is revealed to us through our faith and understanding of it. You promise us that those who live in Your righteousness choose to do so by living out their lives by faith. Help me to become better at embracing this promise, Father, so that I may accept the righteousness You are always revealing to me through my prayer and through Your word.
ATTITUDE (verses 21-23): I have, unfortunately, given into this negative attitude quite often in my life since coming to faith. I have lived in an attitude towards my faith and life in general lacking gratitude and often even embracing foolish ways. Over time, this has definitely darkened both my mind and my heart. Please work in me, Father, to begin to remove that darkness that I have allowed to plague me over the years. Teach me how to embrace an attitude of gratitude and wisdom through You instead of through myself or the worldly ways.
COMMAND (verse 25): The command You give us in this verse is definitely a simple one, but so often I have failed at it. Essentially, You are commanding us to not put anything above You and Your truth. You say that so many have traded out Your truth for lies; traded out the Creator for created things. Please help me to be better at following this command, Father, so that my life stays in the divine order which You command it to be in—with You as my #1 priority.
EXAMPLE (verses 28-32): Oh how the world is raised and lives in this sad and unfortunate example more and more as time has moved forward for us. The example You give us in these verses are essentially what society has become today, because You have delivered us to our sinful temptations. We are all filled with unrighteousness, evil, greed, wickedness, envy, quarrels, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, arrogance, pride, boastfulness, disobedience, distrust, and even a lack of love/compassion. In addition to this, society as a whole even praises these practices more and more. You wrote about this thousands of years ago and I am witness to this example You give every day of my life. I’ve even lived in this example so much in my life, giving into many of the selfish, morally wrong, and worthless traits/habits You describe here. Please help me, Father, to have righteous discernment so that I know when I am going down a path in my thought life, actions, words, and faith, so that I am able to lean on You to return to Your will for my life instead of my own or society’s.
*DAILY NOTE: I can already tell that the book of Romans is going to be a powerful book for my quiet times, Father. Thank You for pushing me to go through Romans next. Thank You for Your timely wisdom and counsel when I need it the most. You have blessed me with so much, but I continue to falter in my faith at times. I know that with You all things are possible, but this world has a way of putting its hooks in me and pulling me into my selfish ways. Continue to work in me, Father, so that I falter less and less as my faith continues to mature. Continue to instruct me in Your ways and fill me with Your wisdom, love, and grace. Thank You for everything You have done for me, even though I am undeserving.
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
Комментарии