Verse of the Day 2/23
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Monday's post from Romans 8:26 encouraged us that even when we can't find the words to pray that the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us with the Father. He takes our groanings and as we read in today's verse and intercedes for us "according to the will of God".
Although the word grace doesn't show up in this passage until the following verse, it is at the heart of what we read in verses 26 and 27. It is God's grace that does all of this for us. Louie Giglio refers to is as sustaining grace. He writes,
"A big part of that interceding mentioned in v 27, and that all things work together for good in 28 revolve around God's grace. The word is not found in either verse, but it permeates the thoughts of the verses....I call this sustaining grace, a moment-by-moment grace. It's the type of grace that God gives for each and every moment of intense grief, frustration, sorrow, agony, or pain. This type of grace is a tailor-made grace specially designed for each person. It does not transfer over, and it's never repeated exactly the same way, and it's not experienced the same from person to person.
This grace is specific. Timely. Personal. ...The sustaining grace you receive in the first moment is different than the grace you receive in the second. And the grace received in the second moment is different than the grace received in the third moment. And in the fiftieth moment. And in the two thousandth moment. And every moment after that. I am still receiving that grace, long ago losing count, but if I were to try it would be beyond 10,000 times, 10,000 reasons to trust him."
If you are facing a situation where you don't know how to pray to God about it, whether it be for youself, a friend, family member or at someone's request. Don't fret about it. Turn it over to the Lord. Have confidence that the Spirit knows your heart through and through and can take your groanings, your emotions and intercede for you "according to the will of God".
I pray that you will receive and realize God's sustaining grace moment by moment today.
1 Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what he deems best–
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
2 Ev'ry day the Lord himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares he gladly bears and cheers me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of his child and treasure
Is a charge that on himself he laid:
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure"–
This the pledge to me he made.
3 Help me then in ev'ry tribulation
So to trust your promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation
Offered me within your holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when, toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
Blessings,
Mike
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
New International Version
26 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 through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment