Holy Spirit, as I pray over this part of Scripture, teach me about Christ’s character and Your will for me.
Faith Proclaimed
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
Father in heaven, how beautiful is our faith when we’re tested by You so that we may know You better. Our faith was strengthened so that our lips will praise Your holy name. Our belief is proclaimed to the world as the saints obeyed and died for You. Let Your glory shine even more through our tested faith. Beautiful Savior, I cannot achieve anything in faith when we trust and obey your word.
God is Our Witness
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
Our God, may we always serve You in our spirit, mind, and body. Let our mouths declare the gospel to all our friends, relatives, employees, and children. If we forsake You in our daily walk, forgive us. We prayed, instead, that we would act and obey You rather than please ourselves and do God’s will. Let us find a quiet spot and be alone with You to renew our minds and souls. We long to see the day of return and abide forever with You.
Be Mutually Encouraged
12 That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), so that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
We’re thankful to have the privilege of encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ with words of comfort, love, hope, and rest. Our hearts can only find rest in Jesus Christ, for no other person or thing in this world will fulfill our desires. Our soul seeks Your will, Lord, and without the Helper, we’ll lose focus on what’s excellent and profitable. Let the fruits of the Spirit abound in our lives as we learn to love Your word, precepts, and teachings over what this world offers. Forgive Your servant’s sinful thoughts and actions.
Preach the Gospel
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,d both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
O, my God, this is a difficult task for me to share the gospel. I’m not ashamed, but I’m not confident or skilled. Forgive and rebuke me as You did with Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? (Exodus 4:10).
Let my heart be courageous when the occasion of sharing the gospel presents itself. The Holy Spirit walks by my side and will give me the necessary wisdom. For I wish to glorify Your name.
Righteousness of God
“16 I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. 17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written:”“The righteous will live by faith.””16 I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. 17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
O God, Your word is powerful for salvation to everyone who believes You brought the message of hope and redemption. Your perfect Son gave himself for us so He may claim us as His own. We’re the children of obedience and belong to a Mighty King.
Your power and authority are above all other gods. None surpasses Yours. In Your righteousness, our faith is revealed.
Spurgeon Morning Devotion
“Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.”— Lamentations 3:41
The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are.
If God gave us favours without constraining us to pray for them we should never know how poor we are, but a true prayer is an inventory of wants, a catalogue of necessities, a revelation of hidden poverty. While it is an application to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness.
The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust.
Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labour of prayer.
Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets, that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer girds the loins of God’s warriors, and sends them forth to combat with their sinews braced and their muscles firm.
An earnest pleader cometh out of his closet, even as the sun ariseth from the chambers of the east, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race. Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua; it is the arrow shot from the chamber of the prophet foreboding defeat to the Syrians.
Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do!
We thank thee, great God, for the mercy-seat, a choice proof of thy marvellous lovingkindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!
Charles Spurgeon
Let’s Go Pray!
PrayingOverScripture 