The Daily Dose

Reinforced Promises

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Romans 8:31-32

I love this passage.  I would have to say it is one of my favorites for sure!  I could do a dose on each individual verse coming up to the end of the chapter here in Romans 8.  Each one is so powerful! 

I combined verse 31 and 32 as today’s key passage because we often use one without the other, but when put together in context, the message is expanded beyond what we normally consider.  Let me explain.  Verse 31 is a common scripture to share when someone is in a struggle or up against opposition.  You want to be an encouragement so you offer: “If God is for you, no one can stand against you!”  You share this message with the intent to not only encourage, but for the person to take hold of these words to propel them through the barriers coming against them.  However, when you put it together with the very next verse, it packs a double punch!

Now you say: “Hey, I just want you to know that God is for you, so there is nothing that can stand up against you.  He didn’t even spare His very own Son, Jesus, but gave Him up for you!  That is proof you can hold on to that He will freely give you all things, whatever you need to get you through this battle!” 

See what I mean?  The second verse totally reinforces the thought and promise of verse 31.  It is the confirmation that the statement in verse 31 is absolutely truth and you can depend on it.  So this is what I want you to do the next time one of your family members or friends are up against it.  Don’t just offer them the promise, give them the proof that goes along with the promise and then it will become something they can sink their faith into that carries them on to victory.

Today I want to encourage you to get excited about the scriptures.  Romans 8 is one of the most powerful chapters in the entire Bible and definitely one you can get stirred up about.  As you read through it again today, take some time to look for each promise given and then for the reinforcing proof that goes along with that promise.  Don’t stop there, do it with every promise you find in His Word.  God keeps His Word, but you can only depend on Him keeping the parts that you know.  Get to know more of God and His promises today by learning more of His Word.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8:1-32

Put your trouble to work

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

This is one of our favorite verses because no matter what we are going through, we know God is working along with the circumstances for good because we love Him, and we know we are called to His purpose.  That doesn’t mean it applies to just anyone or any situation.  The passage is very specific in saying who God is working in behalf of . . . those who love Him and are called to His purpose.  A lot of stuff happens that God has no part of, but our prayer of faith brings Him on the scene immediately.  Glory to God!!

I like how this was evident in the Apostle Paul’s life.  He said in 2 Corinthians 4:17  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”.  First of all, LIGHT AFFLICTION?  What was Paul talking about?  His afflictions, in my opinion, were not light.  He was beaten, stoned, buffeted by a messenger from Satan, (2 Cor. 12:7) imprisoned for years and brought before Caesar.  Oh, and don’t forget shipwrecked and snake bitten!   I don’t know about all of you, but I have never faced any of those things.  However, notice how he says these things were working for him.  One version says “troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”  If we could only get this mind set as we go through life.  Life is short and the things we go through in this world are working glory (God’s goodness) that is greater than any problem we face here, provided we choose to go through them trusting and following God.  I believe this takes a kingdom mind set, becoming so filled up and preoccupied with the kingdom of God and the eternity we will spend with Him.  

Today I want to encourage you to begin filling up your life with the things of God.  Everything you know about God right now is a good place to start.  Make a list of the things you know about Him and the things He has done and touched your life with.  Then ask Him to reveal more of Himself and His goodness to you that will draw you even closer to Him. Everyone is going through something, the key is how you go through the trials that come your way.  Are you trusting God and following Him through, or are you complaining, fighting, and blaming everything and everyone around you?  The choice is yours. When the pressures of life come your way, remember that these stresses are working for you because you love God and are called to His purpose and trusting Him to turn them around for good!

Today Scripture reading: Romans 8:26-30

His Spirit helps us

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Romans 8:26

Have you ever had trouble knowing just how to pray about a situation?  You tried to pray the way that made sense to you, but just didn’t receive any peace about it?  Maybe it was about a family member who was struggling with a decision they needed to make or a friend that was given a bad report from the doctor?  Maybe it was something you were praying about in your own circumstances, but no matter how you prayed about it, you just couldn’t stop thinking and worrying about it.

This happened to me recently and it was a good reminder about the prayer of faith that gets results.  Someone close to me was wrestling with a decision that they needed to make.  It was difficult for them to step away from a relationship that had been a part of their life for so long.  I felt the stress of the problem on them and hated to see them having to deal with this at such a young age, but knew that when they got through to the other side, they would be stronger and the relationship would be in a better place.  I prayed about it for quite a while, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about all the possible outcomes.  I was definitely worrying, but I kept taking it back to God and in my heart I knew He had a great solution.  Praying in my understanding brought no resolve, so I began to pray in the Spirit.  From that point on, every time I was tempted to worry about it, I resumed praying in the Spirit and believing for the answer.  The Spirit of God helped me when I was be weakened with worry and stress.  I didn’t know how I should pray, I just wanted it to work out right.  I know the Holy Spirit was taking my petition before God and bringing back the answer to me, so that I could pray out the perfect will of God.  It didn’t take long at all before I suddenly knew the right response and the answer to the problem.  Of course, the Holy Spirit reminded me what the scripture says and what the right decision was to make.  Now I began to pray this promise over the situation in my underestanding.  I felt peace almost immediately.  I still didn’t know if the situation was going to work out this way, but I did know how to pray about it.  Glory to God!  I now believe that by knowing the answer, I can pray this over the situation to open the door for God to come in and work out all the details!  He is so good!!

The very next verse here in Romans 8 says that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us which because He knows the will of God.  Paul continues in verse 28 to say that God works all things, including people and problems together for good, but only for those who love God and His purpose. (This doesn’t mean that everything that happens is God’s will)  So no matter what you are up against, when you get the plan and will of God on the situation, you can be sure He is working it all out for your good because you love Him!

Today I want to encourage you not to worry but to pray!  Whatever you are stressing about, believe that God has a perfect solution and plan and He wants you to know what it is.  Begin by praying and asking God to show you how He sees the situation and what His desired results are for the outcome.  Ask for scripture to reinforce the will of the Father and then pray in the Spirit for godly wisdom and understanding.  Your heavenly Father has the answers and He has sent His Spirit to help when you don’t know how to pray about it.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8:26-30

Glory revealed

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18

There is no question about it, the apostle Paul suffered in his lifetime.  I think it is safe to say he suffered more than any other minister of the gospel throughout all of history.  He lists some of the things he suffered in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.  He said:  

1. labors more abundant
2. stripes above measure
3. in prisons more frequently
4. in deaths often
5. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one
6. Three times I was beaten with rods
7. once I was stoned
8. three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep
9. in journeys often
10. in perils of waters
11. in perils of robbers
12. in perils of my own countrymen
13.  in perils of the Gentiles
14. in perils in the city
15. in perils in the wilderness
16. in perils in the sea
17.  in perils among false brethren
18. in weariness and toil
19. in sleeplessness often
20. in hunger and thirst
21. in fastings often
22. in cold and nakedness
23. besides the other things that come upon me daily

That’s quite a list and there were even more that he didn’t list here.  I’m sure most of us would have to admit that we have never suffered like the apostle Paul did.  If I’m being honest, my biggest complaints would consist of: I had to go to work everyday, sometimes I didn’t have air conditioning, I missed lunch, breakfast or snack once.  I couldn’t watch my favorite television episode. Someone didn’t like my post on facebook.  How ridiculous is that?  Yet some would consider the things they complain about as suffering?

Paul’s sufferings were real, yet in today’s key verse, he says they cannot compare with the glory that is coming.  He was not focused on his current circumstances.  Paul had come to realize that circumstances and situations change, but the things he accomplished for God were eternal.  He knew that when he finished his time in the world, there was glory and crowns waiting for him.

You may say:  That’s great for Paul, but how does that relate to my life today?  First of all, the glory that Paul was looking to was not a result of his suffering, it was the result of his completing the call on his life.  Paul listened and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in his life and he determined to complete each mission regardless of the opposition around him.  Everywhere he went, he pretty much knew there was going to be some discomfort involved, but he didn’t let that deter him from his assignment.

Thankfully, we will never have to suffer like the apostle Paul did, but we can expect the glory that will be revealed as we compete our assignments.  The key is determining that no matter what comes against you, you are going to follow the leading of God’s Spirit to complete the mission He has for you.  We are laboring for the hope that is planted on the inside and now we eagerly wait for it by working with perseverance until the mission is completed. (vs. 25)

Today I want to encourage you to look to the glory that will be revealed in you, not because you suffer, but because you obey.  Yes, the glory is in eternity, but there is also glory here in the world in what you accomplish.  As you follow each step the Spirit of God leads, that glory is revealed in knowing that you are doing what you were born to do in this world.  There is no greater earthly fulfilment than when you are doing what you were created to do.  Seek that out today and begin to have God’s glory revealed in your life right here and now.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8:18-25

Abba Father

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  Romans 8:15

This scripture is actually a continuation from yesterdays Dose.  I know we read this in our scripture reading passage yesterday, but I couldn’t pass over this precious truth that God truly is our Father.

So it continues from verse fourteen that says if you are led by God’s Spirit, you are a son/child of God’s. The passage goes on to say in verse fifteen:  Because you are led by God’s Spirit, you did not receive a spirit of slavery and fear.  God’s Spirit does not include fear and He doesn’t enslave anyone.  He is the Spirit that adopted us into His family and that is why we can call Him our Father, our Abba/daddy Father.  Abba is the closest relationship you can have with your Father.  You share all things with Him and He shares with you.  You have also been adopted into the family so He takes an extra step to make sure you feel welcomed, loved and included in the family. 

This is why Psalms 23 says that He welcomes us as His special guest.  Yes, we are part of His family, but we are precious and special to Him.  So special that He goes out of His way to come close when we call on Him.  He is always ready and always available to help, guide and protect.  All you need to do is ask and believe He will.

This passage continues by saying that when His Spirit and our spirit are in agreement, we become a connected heir with Jesus.  We are part of the plan and get in on part of His inheritance.  The work of salvation didn’t stop at Jesus, it continues to go on even today and into eternity.  We as believers have a part in His salvation plan and that is to tell others and bring others into this most precious relationship with our loving Abba Father.  Sharing His love with all those that He brings into our lives is the greatest purpose we have for living in this world.  We have been giving this short time to love God and to love people.

Today I want to encourage you to press into your Abba Father today.  Thank Him for adopting you and for welcoming you into His Kingdom as His special guest.  Tell Him how valuable your relationship with Him is to you and glorify Him for making you a part of His family and His salvation plan.  Then go out and share it today with someone who needs some good news in their life, today.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8: 12-17

Spirit led

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  Romans 8:14

In previous Doses I have talked some about hearing from God on the inside, so I want to focus on that today.  Our Heavenly Father is so wonderful, and He wants to help us and lead us away from things that can trap and harm us.  He also wants to lead us to the plans and things He has for us to accomplish.  That is why He sent His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth (His way) and away from the darkness (John 16:13). To recognize when you are hearing from God, you must know Him. 

So that would be the first step in hearing from God, you must first be a child of God.  That is when you come to the point in your life when you recognize that you need a Savior and receive the Lord Jesus into your heart and life.  The next thing to do is develop a personal relationship with Him through spending time talking to Him (praying) and reading His Word (the Bible) every day.  As you begin to line your life up with the things He has taught in His Word, you will sense a nudging on the inside that you know lines up with His Word.  Such as:  If you tell a lie, you may remember that you read in God’s Word you should not lie, or if you gossip or talk about others, you may hear a “prompting” again that these are things you know are not pleasing to God by what you have read in His Word.  Lining your life up with God’s Word will empower you to know what you should and should not eliminate in your daily habits.

Side note: Just because you have accepted Jesus into your life as Lord, doesn’t mean that whatever you are thinking or feeling is from Him.  You have to yield to Him and let Him know that you want to get into agreement with Him.  God lead us through our daily walking in relationship with Him.  If you go through life obeying all the rules you read in the Bible, but never have a personal relationship with God, you will miss out on the purpose He has for your life. The other thing to watch out for is not doing things because you don’t feel like it or because it may not make sense in the natural world.  Feelings are fickle and because they can change so quickly, you cannot depend on them to lead your life. Things such as tithing, loving your enemy, or submitting to one another in love may not make sense to you in the natural, but they are spiritual laws that God has set up to bless you.  These are things that require faith and humility and may be uncomfortable to start.  However, when you act in faith on the Word of God that He leads you to, He will give you the grace to follow through and receive His blessings because you are following.

Lastly, hearing from God is a step of faith, and His Spirit’s ways will always line up with His Word.  If you are not sure God is leading you in a direction, ask Him for scripture to back up the direction you hear on the inside.  He will bring it to your thoughts or will lead you to it in your daily reading.  I promise you God is not trying to make it hard.  He sent us His Holy Spirit to help us have an advantage over the rest of the world and know the things He is leading us to.

Today, I want to encourage you to talk to God about “hearing” from Him or getting a “word” from Him on the inside, so you can begin to learn what His voice sounds like.  You can start by saying something like “I love you, my Father”. Then sit quietly and wait for a response on the inside.  Let Him know that you want to start living your life being led by His Spirit inside you. He will begin small, so if you act on it, you will have little risk if you hear wrongly.  Write down what you are hearing and review it often to reinforce and remember that He is leading you.  God is so good and He has given us a Helper to help us in this life.  Don’t ignore His leading, learn to listen to His voice on the inside, and He will guide your every step.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8:12-17

The Spirit of life

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  Romans 8:11

Have you ever had days when you felt like you could use some life in your body?  Maybe you were worn out or stressed out?  Maybe you were feeling run down or contracted the latest flu symptoms?  Or maybe you just stayed up too late the night before and needed to catch up on some sleep?  Whatever the reason was, you were exhausted and needed a boost to keep you going.  It happens quite often in life and in reality our natural bodies have been dying since the day we were born.

However, there is some good news if you are a believer in Christ Jesus.  That news is that the same Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the grave also lives in you and gives you sustaining life.  What does that life include?  Things like eternal life, health, energy, strength and empowerment to complete your assignment.  Whatever it is that you need, the life of His Spirit has it for you.  When we call on our Father to heal or empower us, He is the One that enacts His Spirit within us to heal and empower and not just a little bit.  It is the same resurrection power that raised Jesus up from being a dead man to being a glorified man.

So why doesn’t my life always look like the life of the Spirit of God living in me?  Why do I sometimes feel run down and empty?  Why do I get symptoms and sickness?  Why don’t I always have strength, energy and empowerment?  Am I doing something wrong?  Well, the first thing to do is ask.  Ask the Spirit of God inside you to strengthen you, ask Him to empower and help you.  Just as you used your faith when you invited Jesus into your heart, you use your faith to receive the life that the Holy Spirit lives to give you.  When you received Jesus, nothing happened on the outside.  At least not right away, but over time, your life began to line up with God’s ways and God’s Word.  It’s the same when you ask for healing and restoration, you may not seem immediate results, but rest assured the answer is coming.  We serve and love the God who cannot lie, so if He says that His Spirit is inside of you giving you life, by faith, you believe it and receive it.  You may have to pray:  “Father, you said you have placed your life giving Spirit on the inside of me so even when I don’t feel Him, I believe He is there and He is at work.  Thank you for my healing and restoration now in Jesus’ name!”  Then every time you wonder why you don’t feel better or energized, just go ahead and thank Him again that He is working on it and you are by faith receiving that healing!

Today I want to encourage you to spend some time meditating on the life of God’s Spirit living on the inside of you.  Think about His unending love and goodness He has given you.  Remember that Jesus was in the tomb for three days before the life of the Spirit raised Him up, so it may take a little time for that life giving Spirit to show up in your natural circumstances.  Just remind yourself that it is coming and thank your Heavenly Father that His Help (the Holy Spirit) is on the way to rescue you from every affliction!

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8:9-11

No condemnation

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  Romans 8:1

No condemnation.  Think about that for a minute.  It reminds me of what Jesus said to the woman that was caught in the act.  John 8:10-11 says When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”   It didn’t matter to Jesus what she had done, He was not there to condemn her only to rescue her.  She didn’t even come to Him willingly, she was dragged there by a mob.  Jesus made sure she knew that He was not condemning her for her sin.  He also told Nicodemus in John 3:17 that “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world would be saved through Him.”

The passage here in Romans 8 has some qualifications for no condemnation.  They are:

1. You must be in Christ Jesus (born again, child of God)

2. Do not walk according to the flesh (rather walk by faith)

3. Walk in agreement with the Spirit of God (obedient to the Word and direction of God)

Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but the world was already condemned by its sin.  Jesus came to rescue us from that condemnation.  The very next verse here in Romans 8 says that the law of the Sprit of life in Christ Jesus makes us free from the law of sin and death. (condemnation)  Glory to God!

The problem is that because we are still in this world and around sin, so we often feel the weight of condemnation.  So what is the secret?  The solution is in your relationship with Him.  When you press into your Heavenly Father through your salvation in Jesus, He not only cleanses you from all unrighteousness, but He also leads you by His Spirit within you.  As you follow closely, you then have the confidence in your connection with your Father.  1 John 3:20 & 21 tells us that if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. If it doesn’t condemn us then we have confidence toward Him.  The more time you spend focused on God and His plans, the less your heart will condemn you.  The more time you spend focused on yourself and your issues, the more you feel condemned.

Today I want to encourage you to take time to talk to your Father in Heaven.  Press into Him on a new level and ask Him to lead you out of any condemning feelings you may be having.  If you are feeling bad about yourself, ask Him for a renewed view of how precious you are to Him.  Get a fresh revelation that there is absolutely no condemnation to those who are God’s children who are led by His Spirit not by your senses.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 8:1-8

Get it out!

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.  Romans 7: 18-20

This is not an excuse to sin, but have you ever struggled like the apostle Paul talks about in this passage?  He says that he doesn’t do what he wants to do and he does what he doesn’t want to do.  This sounds like it should have a simple solution and really it does, however, it is not easy.  The passage says that the reason for doing what you don’t want to do and not doing what you want to do is because sin is living in you.  This is actually good news and the reason is because you can locate where sin is in your life easily and then get rid of it.  It is a little like when you get a virus in your computer.  You want your computer to do one thing, but it keeps doing something you don’t want it to do.  The reason is because you have a virus that is interfering with your desired outcome.

A simple life example is if you have trouble when you are around certain people controlling your language.  Whether it is bad words or bad talk (gossip, complaining or criticizing), the root of this issue is what you are allowing to enter into your heart.  I recognize that there are some times that you cannot control what you hear and what gets into your head.  The times when you are around ungodly people like at work, shopping or restaurants.  However, there are times that you can control it, but choose to let it in anyway.  These times include but are not limited to movies, music and social media.  So even though you don’t agree or don’t want to take part in these types of activities, because you tolerate them into your life they are being reinforced in your heart and sometimes they slip out your mouth.  You didn’t want to and in fact your will was not to, but you did anyway.  This does not mean that you are not a Christian anymore, it just means that you have a sin root in you that grew as you watered it with repeatedly hearing or seeing sin.

The good news is, that once you recognize that you continue to do something that you don’t want to do, you can begin to identify where it is coming from.  If it is using foul language, cut out all the areas that you have control over hearing foul/crude language.  If it is gossip and complaining, eliminate the influencers that are full of gossip and complaining and etc..  See what I mean?  It is a simple solution, but not easy to do.

Today I want to encourage you to start watching for the things you would do that you don’t want to do.  Once you identify one, turn it over to God and ask Him to help you to eliminate this habit.  He will help you, but you have a part to play.  The most effective way to eliminate sin is to replace its root with the Word of God.  Any area that you recognize as a negative influence, replace it with God’s Word.  Through reading, listening to or watching podcast or videos, you can easily fill that space with good and eliminate the sin working in you. In the same way, the actions that you do want to do, begin to strengthen them in your life by practicing them where ever you are. You can eliminate continual sin in your life, but you have to make changes to do it.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 7:7-25

Harvest of good deeds

So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the One who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.  Romans 7:4

Something new was planted on the inside of you when you received Jesus as your Savior.  That seed began growing in you that day and has continued ever since.  It is more powerful than the seeds of darkness that once grew within you, so as it grows, it leaves no room for those old destructive seed habits that once overran your heart.  Now, you have the pureness of God’s love and goodness guiding and directing your life. As you spend time cultivating your relationship with Him, the seeds of His goodness and love are strengthened and growing in your heart.

This is good news and the key verse for today says that when we invited Jesus into our lives, we became united/joined together with Him.  The result produced His good works shared with others.  Now our lives consist of making a difference in the hearts of all those who come around us. 

The passage goes on to contrast our old way of living by sinful desires that produced sinful habits leading to death.  However, now in Christ Jesus we have been released from our sin nature and have been given newness of life that is directed by the Spirit of God.  It is the difference between darkness and the Light, Day and night.  Simply put: you once lived in blindness, but now in His salvation you can plainly see all things.  Glory to God!

Today I want to encourage you once again to press in closer to the voice of God’s Spirit within you.  Ask Him to make His path plain and clear to you.  Take authority of any interference that may be trying to distract you from following closely and take those steps of faith to reach out and share with those that He brings close to you.  Remember that all who come into your presence are entering the presence of God also.  Make sure that they can plainly see His heart by the way you give His love and goodness to them.

Today’s scripture reading: Romans 7:1-6