Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Romans 8:26-39 (NRSV)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced 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.

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Reflect

Have you ever been so upset that you were at a loss for words? You are searching for answers, but don’t even know what questions to ask or where to start. I feel this way when I am hurting and try to pray. I am not able to put my feelings into words and tell God why I am upset and hurting, but God knows. God knows all of our problems. Our desire to tell God about our hurts and feelings is enough. That is how awesome and powerful our God truly is.

We should revel in the fact that God knows all of our feelings and thoughts, whether we are able to voice them or not. God loves us, and nothing will ever change that love. We may pull away, but God will always be there. God’s love is so strong that nothing will ever be able to separate us from God. When life seems unbearable and hardships fall upon you, look to God, who will surely hear you.

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Pray

Dear Lord, please hear my unspoken prayers. Lift us up when we need comforting and help us to feel your love. Thank you for always being there for us and for hearing us even when we cannot find the words to say how we feel. In your precious name we pray, Amen.

Go with God.