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Category Archives: Romans

Luke 12:1-7; Romans 4:1-8

17 Oct

12 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!

4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Luke 12:1-7

Dear God, duplicity is such an interesting thing. Being on thing behind closed doors and another thing in public. Hypocrisy. It’s so easy. We want so badly for people to think well of us because we want to be liked and admired. I still have that in me although I’ve tried to wrangle it out of myself. But the more I look to you as my source of self-worth the more I let go of my public image and make my private life reflect who you want me to be because you are with me all the time. So the more I figure out how to find my worth in you the more my hypocrisy shrinks.

I want to also take a moment to look at the other New Testament reading for the church today. It is Romans 4:1-8:

4 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

7 “Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

It’s all about faith over obedience. Love for you over achievement for ourselves. Abraham did some terrible things. So did Jacob. So did David. But here they are, pillars of your people’s history? Why? Not their works. It was their faith. Honestly, I still don’t quite get Jacob, but that’s up to you, not me.

Father, help me to lean into my faith in you today. You know I’m still working through some tricky things at work. Help me to know how to be a blessing to each person who needs me there. Help me to be a blessing to those whom you love (which is everyone). Help me to worship you well. Help me to love my wife and children well. Help me to be the man you need me to be.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on October 17, 2025 in Luke, Romans

 

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Romans 8:26-28

09 Sep

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:26-28

Dear God, this is one of those precious passages that is so encouraging. The problem is it’s also easy to misinterpret if one is a subscriber to prosperity gospel teaching. But before I get to verse 28, I want to spend some time with verse 26.

You, Holy Spirit, are so overlooked by all of us, but I think I’m getting a little better at thinking about you and the role you play in my life. The depths of your companionship with me. The teaching. The comfort. And the praying. This is the one I probably don’t think about as much. That you pray for me. And I don’t have to ask you to pray for me “with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Paul indicates here that you just do it. And I have friends for whom I pray. I hope you are praying for them with groanings too because, frankly, I am just not a very focuses intercessory prayer. I’m not nearly as purposeful or disciplined about it as my wife is. She’s much better at praying for others than I am. But I also believe that you are there just loving me and praying for me and the things I care about.

This leads me to verse 28. The trick on my end is to not expect that I know what my good is. That’s where prosperity gospel teaching fails. It assumes we can identify when something is good for us or not. If I were to win the billion-dollar Powerball that was awarded the other night, I might think that is good for me, but you would know better. How many lottery winner who win large amounts actually have their lives improve? Not many. But there are the more practical things too. I remember in 2005 when I was really mad at you about not getting a specific job, but what I couldn’t see in the moment was you had something different for me. And there are things in my life that I want now. There are broken relationships I long to be healed. But maybe you don’t have that as what is best for everyone involved. I’m too ignorant to know what is your best, so the Holy Spirit is praying for me and my faith allows me (most of the time) to be patient and let you work things out for the collective good, not just my selfish wants.

Father, I love you. I trust you. I thank you. Holy Spirit, thank you for praying. Thank you for all that you do for me that I almost never acknowledge. Thank you for the comfort you give me. Thank you for teaching and directing me. Thank you for loving me. Now, as I have different names come to mind who need prayer, I pray that you will strongly support them. Love them. Bring glory to your name in their eyes and through their lives. Heal, but do it for your glory. Comfort. Teach. Provide. All for your glory. Our utmost for your highest.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on September 9, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 8:26-32

22 Aug

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Romans 8:26-32

Dear God, this is another example of the importance of context. The verse of the day from Bible Gateway was just verse 32. And that’s great, but what are we talking about here. We are talking about how good you are and how you answer our prayers even in our ignorance. You know better than to give us everything we ask for. You know more than our eyes can see or minds can comprehend. Your Holy Spirit is with us and he knows how to pray for us. He knows how to intercede for us. And what is he saying in his intercession? Groanings that communicate beyond words. It’s those things you just can’t put into words. It’s just beyond language. That’s how deeply the Holy Spirit is pairing with me even right now as I sit and attempt to put my prayer to you in typed out words on a laptop.

I’m praying in a limited language with a limited mind and limited vision. But my prayer goes through the Holy Spirit filter to you. I pray about my daily bread and the Holy Spirit knows more about what my daily bread need is. I pray that you will forgive me of my sins, but those are usually only just some of the ones of which I’m consciously aware. The Holy Spirit is turning that into deeper healing for me. I pray for my wife and children, but the Holy Spirit knows more about what they need than I do. I pray about my community, state, or country, but the Holy Spirit knows the depths of the need and more about what you are doing in the world that is so much bigger than the needs I can think of.

I wonder how Paul got this revelation. How did he get this knowledge of how the Holy Spirit prays for us? Did you meet with him more often than just on the road to Damascus? Did he get words of knowledge like prophets?

Father, I have relatives for whom I want to pray this morning. Some are struggling with life in general. Some are healing from medical conditions. Some are hurt and angry. Some are wounded and need healing. Some are just trying to serve you and need encouragement. Holy Spirit, you know each life I’m thinking about right now. Help me pray to the Father for them. My community, state, country, and world need you. Each of the 7 billion people on this planet right now needs you. I don’t know how your plan works or how this all works out, but I know you are working a plan. But I see suffering locally and overseas. Please be merciful and move the men and women with power to address the suffering. The horrendous things going on. I have some problems to solve at work. Please lead me to solutions. Lead me to your solutions. Holy Spirit, you know more about what we need and who we need than I do. Please pray for me. My family and community need you. Show me my role in being your presence to them. Holy Spirit, walk with me in every moment today.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 22, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 14:6-9

15 Aug

6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Romans 14:6-9

Dear God, do I honor you enough? For example, I’m not the best about thanking you for my food. I have it in my head to do it when I’m eating with other people. That’s kind of an ingrained habit. Even that, though, isn’t necessarily me being truly grateful for the food. I’ve always had plenty. So much so that I’ve battled my weight since I was 10 years old. No, I’m not really grateful for my food. In fact, there are times when I pray before a meal that I forget to mention the food.

It’s easy to say that I live for you and die for you, but am I honoring you enough in the living? Do I let selfishness dictate how much at risk I’m willing to put what I have? My possessions and my comfort? Oh, how I want to honor you. I want everything I do to honor you. How I worship and pray. How I interact with others. How I do my work. Right down to the little things. How I drive. How I order at a restaurant. How I react when I see a homeless person in need (I’m not good at that one at all–what’s appropriate and what’s not?).

Here’s a good example. I was really proud of something we were able to do with a patient at our clinic this week, and when I told people about it I don’t think I credited you enough for orchestrating what happened or the outcome.

Father, this is a good reminder to do everything I do in honor of you. I’m about to talk with a friend on the phone. Help me to honor you in it. I’m going to meet some men and move some heavy, awkward furniture for work. Help me to honor you in how I do that. I’m going to write thank you letters. Help me to honor you in those letters. I’m going to meet a friend for lunch and do them a favor. Help me to honor you in that time. I’ll spend the evening with my wife. Help me to thank you for her and honor you for how you bless me through her. I want to have you in my every breath today and be grateful for each breath. Help me to be mindful of that.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on August 15, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 1:16-17

17 Jul

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:16-17

Dear God, it is so easy for us to make the “Good News” so complicated. I think the tendency of the modern American Christian is to say it is that we get to go to heaven and escape hell. But that’s not what you’re offering. You are just inviting us to use you for our benefit. The Good News tells us that faith in Jesus and everything he taught makes us right in your eyes. And following Jesus in faith and being right in your eyes brings us life. It’s right there. And on the other side of the veil, eternity with you is our destiny, and that’s great. And I don’t know what they cut line for eternity with you is.

I don’t know where you draw those lines. But I know that what you’re offering me and all of us is life now. If I ignore you and just walk through my life as best as I can in my own power then I don’t know what will happen to my soul. Jesus was a little vague on how you’ll decide those things. He said in Matthew 25:31-46 that some of us who claim to know you don’t know you, and some who didn’t realize they were loving you were loving you all along by loving the least of these.

Father, help me to be absolutely loving to everyone today. Help me to see every interaction with everyone who crosses my path as an opportunity to love. Give me ears to hear. Give me eyes to see. Help me to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Help me to be curious and not judgmental. Help me to offer you to those who need you. Help me to recognize those you are calling me to serve. Help me to be wise, shrewd, and discerning. Holy Spirit, speak to me today. Help me to hear you and your counsel. Give me the life Jesus promised and Paul offered.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 17, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 12:3-5

01 Jul

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Romans 12:3-5

Dear God, here’s the line that really hits me this morning: Be honest in [my] evaluation of [myself], measuring [myself] by the faith [you] have given [me]. I recently took a DISC personality test and it was pretty accurate. I definitely leaned into one style over the other. But I think what pleased me the most about the test is the results of the three graphs it gives. One graph was the me others see. One was my instinctive response to pressure. The third was how I see myself. I was pleased by these three graphs because they were consistent. What others see and what I see were almost identical, and the only difference in the one with stress is that I leaned into my dominant style more. Yes, I have things to work on with my personality and how I handle things. Yes, I am flawed and I need to improve in a lot of areas. Yes, I am a sinner and I need your grace. But at least I am starting from a place where I think I’m actually okay at evaluating myself and seeing myself with fairly accurate eyes.

I think part of this comes from pain and struggle. Last night at the Bible study, the ice breaker question was what question would we ask you if we could. There were a lot of questions about the pain we experience. “Why cancer?” “Why did my dad die when I was 8?” Those questions were hard. And I could ask you why for some of my pain, but of of the men pointed out to the others that the pain is what develops us into the people we are. If my life had been perfectly free from pain and struggle, who would I be right now? No, I credit the struggles for bringing me to you and allowing you to work on my heart.

Father, I need to start putting together next week’s lesson for these men, but I want to do it differently than I did the last eight weeks. I want to be maybe a little more deliberate in my message to them. I want to love them with your love. I want to speak to them with your voice. I want to call them to follow you with your Spirit. And I pray for the men who will choose not to come after this week. Be glorified, oh, Lord. Be glorified in their lives. Be glorified in all of the lives involved with this class, including the leaders and teachers. Guide us all into the men you call us to be.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 1, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 12:14

03 May

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

Romans 12:14

Dear God, I heard something interesting on the Slow Theology podcast yesterday. Well, I listened to a couple of podcasts, but I think it was this one. It might have been the Esau McCauley podcast. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. They were talking about social media and some of the dehumanization we’ve done on social media to each other. One of the speakers suggested that it be a rule that if you say anything negative about someone on social media that you make a commitment to pray earnestly for that person for one year. Now, this was a little tongue-in-cheek, but it was serious too. We need to see others as your dearly loved children. We need to see them with your eyes.

So what does that mean for me? I need to think about blessing some people more. I need to pray for them. It doesn’t mean I need to be buddies with them, but I do need to care for them and care about them. I need to be curious and not judgmental. I am sure someone who persecutes me wakes up in the morning thinking they are right and doing the right thing. Very few people wake up with evil intentions. So why are the doing what they are doing? There are politicians in our country and the world who frustrate me. Do I pray for them or do I curse them? Do I care about them and bless them, or do I ridicule and hate them? Is there a limit at which I can not care about them? Does that level exist.

Father, help the people who are running through my head right now. And help me. The more I pray for their deficiencies, the more I can see my own. The more I start to feel self-righteous, the more I feel your Holy Spirit’s conviction. So I pray that you heal them. I pray that they might be forces of your good in this world at whatever level of society they operate. I pray that you might use them for your will to come and be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give them their daily bread. Forgive them as they forgive others. Lead them not into temptation. Deliver them from evil. And I pray the same for me. Give me my daily bread today. Bring your will into the earth through my small life. Forgive me as I forgive others. Lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from evil. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the kingdom, power, and glory are yours forever.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 3, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 14:6

23 Apr

6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 

Romans 14:6

Dear God, I was looking at the verses around Bible Gateway’s “verse of the day” today (Romans 14:11), and I came across this line from Paul in verse 6. I was convicted. More often than not, when I am eating I do not give thanks to you for the food. I completely take it for granted that any amount of food I want is accessible to me any time I want it. The same is true for other things in my life.

  • My wife is amazing. Even though I try to not take her for granted, I know I do. I know I’m not nearly as grateful to you for her as I should be.
  • My home is terrific. As I heard the thunderstorm roll through at three o’clock this morning, I smiled. I was grateful for the rain, but I had zero fears of how a storm would negatively impact me. I knew my house would keep me safe from anything up to and including hail. Tornadoes were unlikely, so I wasn’t worried about that. And while an unlikely lightning strike could burn my house down, I never even worried about that.
  • Right now, I have a job that is pretty secure. I mean, anything can happen, but we are financially stable, and I do not wake up worried about my paycheck or if enough money will come to me on payday.
  • My wife and children and I are all healthy. This is huge, and probably the most fragile part of my life. It’s the part that could go South the easiest. But here I am, not worrying about these things when I wake up in the morning. We are healthy and safe.

I could probably go on and on, but my lack of conscious gratitude to you for the food I eat and the air I am able to breathe today is terrible. I am ashamed of myself right now.

Father, thank you for my daily bread. Help me to appreciate every morsel of food or drink that comes into my body. Help me to appreciate a body that processes it for energy and then service for you. Help me to appreciate the people you put in my life. And when I say help me, I’m not saying I want you to take these things away from me. Frankly, I’m too selfish for that. But I guess what I’m saying is that I really do feel convicted I’m not more grateful for the amazing life you’ve given to me. Give me the wisdom to use it how you would have me use it for your glory.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 23, 2025 in Romans

 

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Romans 1:18-20

22 Apr

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 1:18-20

Dear God, knowing you is complicated. So much of my knowledge is wholly dependent upon what others have taught me. If I had been born in Saudi Arabia, my mind would probably be more likely to see you through the lens of Islam. If I had been born in India, I would believe in multiple weird gods. If I had been born in Utah, I would probably believe in you through the lens of the LDS church. You get the idea. I have taken what I have been taught and done my best to test it and mature in it, but I have only walked down a road I was fortunate to have been started on by others.

I think of people in my life now who have mental barriers in following you. Maybe it’s because they think you didn’t prevent a trauma or bad thing in their life. Maybe it’s because they have known “followers” of you who didn’t live like followers (probably the most common reason). Whatever the case may be, there is usually some kind of external force (Satan) pushing them away from you.

So when I look at the world and the way things are going, what gives me hope? It’s that all of us, every single one of us, has a need in our heart for you. And a lot of people will try to fill that hole with idols. I still try to do it when if feels like an idol will give me the immediate respite from stress, or just life in general, that I’m looking for. But I have a hunger for you. I have a need for you. I’m grateful that my hunger for you brings me back to you. I’m grateful that the world’s hunger for you ultimately brings us to you. That’s what gives me hope for the world.

Father, my wife and I just prayed together for our days. For our children. For the people we will encounter. Help us all to hunger for you, find you, partake of your body and your blood, eat well, and be satisfied in your presence. And help us to take you into the world to those who see the earth and the sky but don’t know its creator. Help us to introduce them to you.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 22, 2025 in Romans

 

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Roman 10:5-13

09 Mar

5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you,
    in your mouth and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:5-13

Dear God, I never get excited about reading Romans. I probably should. I guess it just seems so academic to me. It feels like he’s teaching a class, and I cannot just take bits and pieces here and there like I prefer to do. For example, today, Sister Miriam just has verse 11 as her verse of meditation from Restore: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, but it’s really out of context without the verse around it. But then they are out of context without chapter 9. And when you go back to chapter 9, you realize it is a continuation from chapter 8. It’s just very verbose and almost cryptic. I’d rather someone like Paul, Peter, or John just beat me over the head with what they are saying instead of taking so many words to build the foundation and justification for their argument. Don’t get me wrong. I understand why they did it that way, and I think that way is right. It can just be hard for me to digest given how I tend to read scripture (which is probably wrong since these were mainly written as letters to groups of people or individuals).

So what is Sister Miriam trying to get me to focus on by just pulling out Romans 10:11?

On this first Sunday of Lent, we are led by the Spirit into the desert with Jesus…In the desert, things become very clear. We see our idols–the things we grasp at for salvation other than God. We see where we hide behind our fig leaves of self-righteousness and shame. We see where our sin has wreaked havoc in our lives and in the lives of others.

I had an email exchange with a friend whom I respect as a Godly man. He loves you. He is also very upset right now and some developments in the world. While we lament the same things, I feel like I am reminded time and again the last few years that there is a difference between despair and lament. As long as you are my God, I will not despair (except when I lose faith and I do, indeed, despair), but I will lament things that make me sad and concerned. And you use that lament to comfort me, motivate me, and draw me closer to yourself. If someone came along tomorrow and fixed everything that I am currently lamenting, I might be tempted to worship that person and turn my eyes from you. I might want to make them my idol. I like how Sister Miriam says, “In the desert, things become very clear. We see our idols.” Why does it often take a desert to reveal our idols? Maybe because we look to our idols to comfort us in the desert, and when they fail us (and they will always fail us eventually) we see them for what they are. Or at least you are trying to reveal them for what they are. We just have to be willing to let go of them and allow the Holy Spirit to help us see them as you see them.

Father, I know I still have idols I’m not aware of. My bank account and how much is in it is an idol. I’m sure it is. I know how I feel if I have different amounts in it. A lot makes me happier. Just a little makes me fearful. So it’s certainly in there somewhere. And I know there are other idols. I know I can look to see who is or isn’t in any given political office and make it an idol to get my person in that position one way or another. But that is fool-hearted. One I’ve talked to you about in the past is my interest or need for the U.S. military to be the strongest in the world so I will feel safe. But am I really safe? Do I need to be safe? My nice little neighborhood in my small town can be a place where I find refuge instead of finding my refuge in you. The examples are everywhere. I confess them to you this morning, in this desert place. Be glorified. You are my God.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 9, 2025 in Restore: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, Romans

 

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