Holy Spirit help (Romans 8:26)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Proverbs 4-6 & Romans 8)

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”  Romans 8:26

What lessons are there for me in this Scripture?

Some situations do not have obvious solutions. Some situations have particulars that I am not privy to.

No problem!  The Holy Spirit intercedes for me and the Holy Spirit knows what needs to be done.

My part is presenting the situation to God.  He is promising here to refine my presentation.  What a comfort that is!

I am instructed in other Scripture to pray frequently. Now I have certainty that when a prayer need gets beyond my understanding that the Holy Spirit will step in and help.  Hallelujah!

Julia Ward Howe was born on May 27th.  God gave her the ability to write lyrics.

Know it all (Proverbs 3:7)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – Proverbs 1-3 & Romans 7)

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.”  Proverbs 3:7

What lessons are there for me in this Scripture?

How little I know!

When I am with folks who actually have some spiritual depth, I quickly see how little I have.

Pride in self leads me into making inaccurate judgments and assumptions.  It leads to thinking I have insights of some merit, when in truth my information is limited and my assumptions are based on limited content.

I must continue to seek God’s insight.  I can place little credence on something I come up with.

I am far too ready to draw and offer conclusions.  It is a dangerous habit certain to lead to difficulties.

I must elevate my craving to learn of Him.  I must de-elevate my willingness to offer personal insights that may only come from me.

God must be pleased with the overflow of my heart.  It must sound Godly or kept to myself.  His Words must be my words.

Al Jolson was born on May 26th.  God gave him the ability to write music.

Give God you (Romans 6:13)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – 1 Kings 10-11 & 2 Chronicles 9 & Romans 6)

“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God.”  Romans 6:13

What lessons are there for me in this Scripture?

God wants all of me.  There is nothing part-time with being a believer.  I cannot slip into a lifestyle of pleasing myself.

I need to be entirely dependent on Him.  My life must be committed to Him.

I must clean up my act.  The sludge of counterfeit gods must be eliminated from my life.

How can I live apart from Him?

How often have I chosen to follow other gods giving them value they don’t deserve?  I should know better.

“I surrender all I am to You , Lord.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25th.  God gave him the ability to write.

Life in Him (Romans 5:10-11)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – 1 Kings 9 & 2 Chronicles 8 & Psalm 136 & Romans 5)

“For if when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”  Romans 5:10-11

What lessons are there for me in this Scripture?

My life in God is certainly cause for me to rejoice.

I have God guiding me.  I have His power within me.  I have His comfort when I fall.  I have a present and future in Him.

My rejoicing should be ongoing.  I do not lack any good thing. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from Him.  I should be joyful just thinking about this.

My deep desire to please Him should permeate my behavior.  I want to please Him in everything I do.  If it won’t please Him then I should not do it.

Joe Dumars was born on May 24th.  God gave him the ability to play basketball.

Then will He hear (2 Chronicles 7:14)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – 2 Chronicles 6-7 & Psalm 135 & Romans 4)

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

What lessons are there for me from this Scripture?

This verse is as direct as it gets!  In a nutshell it says: You’ve done wrong in my sight and are being punished for it.  Follow my instructions and our relationship will be restored.

God informed Solomon that trouble will come brought on by the conduct of the people.  God offered a solution to this problem.

The same scenario is in play in my life…..things go wrong, very wrong.  What should I do in response?

This verse lists four responses: (1) humble myself, (2) pray, (3) seek His face, and (4) turn from my wicked ways.

These need to be guidelines for my daily life so that the, “then I will hear from heaven,” part will always be reality.

Douglas Fairbanks was born on May 23rd.  God gave him the ability to act.

Hear me (1 Kings 8:28)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – 1 Kings 8 & 2 Chronicles 5 & Psalm 99 & Romans 3)

“Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”  1 Kings 8:28

What lessons are there for me in this Scripture?

I need to be in regular contact with God.

Though invisible to me, I know He exists.  I see Him in the creation I live in.  I see Him in the history of my life.

He is at hand and I cannot lose touch with Him.  I must engage Him throughout the day.  I know that He hears me.

I want what He wants me to do to be my reality.  His Way is the only way for me to go.

“And how blessed all those in whom You live whose lives become roads You travel.”  Psalm 84:5

Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22nd.  God gave him the ability to write.

Too high a standard (Romans 2:13)

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – 1 Kings 7 & 2 Chronicles 4 & Psalm 98 & Romans 2)

“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”  Romans 2:13

What lessons are there for me in this Scripture?

I will never be able to always follow God’s perfect standard.  I can say/think I am better than others but it makes no difference in God’s sight.

An “infrequent” law-breaker is in the same bad spot with God as the “frequent” law-breaker.  I would have to have been perfect in the past, present, and future to deserve to be futuring with a perfect God.

Obviously, none of us are right in God’s sight – “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” – and qualify for eternal separation from a perfect God.

We must be grateful that being perfect isn’t the only way I can qualify for an eternal future with a perfect God.  God sent Jesus to earth to die for everyone’s disobedience.

If we realize that disobeying God’s law makes me worthy of eternal separation from a perfect God and believe that Jesus’ death blots out our disobedience in God’s sight, then we are saved from eternal separation from God.

Earl Averill was born on May 21st.  God gave him the ability to play baseball.