Hello, my friends,

Writing in my prayer journal has been an absolute joy, allowing more time for searching and praying over His word. The two boxes on each page further reflect on what I learned about God’s attributes and what I’m thankful for. 

I’m praying over the Psalms, primarily those I skipped last year. Also, praying over the book of Colossians. For memorization for 2024, we will memorize the book of James and make a schedule of how many verses I’ll learn each week. Planning ahead is so worth it!

Are you a planner, or simply wing it as you go? Whatever your intentions are, abide in His word and prayer.

Newness of Life

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Almighty God, Through you, only can life begin. We’re alive to God through Your grace. Our baptism is into Christ by faith, and we’re sealed in Him. Christ is risen, and we can enter Your sanctuary of peace. A newness of life begins at the feet of Jesus.

United with Christ

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

We are thankful that we’ve been united with Christ through His promises. Our old self was crucified with Him, and we’re set free from all our iniquities. Not that we no longer sin, but that Christ redeemed and gave us the heart to repent our sins to Him. In Him, we’re forgiven!

O Jesus, death has no dominion over You. You have the power and authority to subject all things under Your Sovereignty. Our word is a double-edged sword. Let me live a life that will glorify You.

Sin has no Dominion over You

12 Let not sin reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions. 3 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 4 For sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law but under grace.

Holy Spirit, teach us not to let our passions take over us but let us present ourselves as instruments of righteousness, pleasing to the Father, for we’re no longer under the law but under God’s grace.

No Longer Slaves to Sin

15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 6 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 7 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 9 I speak in human terms because of your natural limitations. Or just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.

O Father, forgive us of our sins. We must reflect and obey Your will and not abound in unrighteousness. We’re thankful Jesus freed us from the domain of darkness, which is being enslaved to the desires of this world that lead to our destruction rather than a beautiful relationship with You and others. How are your attributes and characters so that our righteousness is in You?

Sanctification & Eternal Life

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 1 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Or the end of those things is death. 2 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 3 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let life count counts for something that my old self is dead, and now I’m free in Christ. My heart rejoiced that I was a slave to a God who had loved and given Himself to me. He has redeemed my life and sanctified my faith through many struggles, trials, and sufferings. Trusting Him through those difficult times has given me peace, rest, hope, and comfort, strengthening my faith.

Justified by Faith

1 What shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather, according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

O, God, You alone can count our work as righteous if it’s done to please and do Your will. We are not hoping to work our salvation by boasting in our own accomplishments of work salvation. It’s by faith alone that was given to us as a gift by the Spirit. O Jesus, you’re the justifier of our souls, speaking on our behalf to the Father who heard and cared for us. Count our faith as righteous as you did with Abraham when he believed in God. Spirit, our hearts rejoiced, knowing our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Teach us how to live in the flesh by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20).

Blessed is the Man/Woman

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the Father of all who believe without being circumcised so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the Father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our Father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

This precious gift of faith is passed down from generation to generation, showing us that God’s grace is alive and active. All the nations have the heart of Christ and of His redemptive hope of salvation for everyone. Knowing we are His and Jesus Christ is mine forever is a blessing. Let us abide in Him so that our lives increase and grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the truth.

Let our righteous faith come from God and not from ourselves. For we’re sealed as believers into the seal of righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ. Spirit, let our faith grow firmer while we await your return.

Heir of the World

13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null, and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression.16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 hope, he believed against hope that he should become the Father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God could do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

God, you’ve promised us to be heirs of the world, receiving through the righteousness of faith. O Father, forgive us if we’ve doubted Your promises. A beautiful promise of grace and guaranteed to all your saints.

Our loving Creator who gives “life to the dead and calls into existence the things that don’t exist.” You’re Powerful and have authority over all creation. Your authorities ruled over all nations, rulers, kings and people. You’ve been able to live and gave us hope of redemption in your Son, Jesus Christ. Let our lips glorify You. Thank you for your deliverance from our darkness, bringing us into your marvellous light. Our justification is completed in Christ, who loved and gave Himself for us.

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources

• Esv Romans 4: https://www.biblehub.com/esv/romans/4.htm

Faithfulness of God

 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ² Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. ³ What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? ⁴ By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

O God, Your faithfulness will last forever, holding all Your saints in the safety of your beloved Son. No one will be forsaken or lost because we’re secured in Your faithfulness. A steadfast love in our souls that will never cease, even when we sinned against You.

God’s Righteousness

⁵ But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) ⁶ By no means! For then, how could God judge the world?

You are a holy God of justice, and judgment will be required upon all of us for our actions. In Your righteousness, Your will judge them rightly and perfectly. No other gods or men on this earth have the authority of a holy person or god over our sins. The Son of God is the only one who has died for our iniquities and transgressions.

God’s Truth

⁷ But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? ⁸ And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

Your words, commands, and statutes are all true. We were giving that testimony through Christ that we may be saved from the wrath of God.

No One is Righteous

⁹ What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands;  no one seeks for God. ^{All have turned aside; together,} they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

We learned our righteousness is limited, not holy like God, through Your word. Some go as far as to dishonour God’s righteousness by profaning Your name. They don’t understand. They don’t seek God. They turned aside, worthlessly and did evil, deceiving with their mouths. Cursing and are bitter with their mouths, shedding blood, and ruining their own paths. They will find no peace and only misery and fear of God in their minds. The law of God will judge and give accountability for their actions.

Faith in Jesus

O Jesus, by Your grace. We’ve been crucified with Christ. No longer I live, but Christ who lives in me. In my life in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave himself for me. You’ve passed over my former fins.

I believed in You, my beloved Redeemer. My faith is a gift of God, and I will praise Your holy name for loving me more than I ever will toward You.

Have a blessed day, now let’s go pray too:)

Resource

• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3&version=ESV

The law Written on our Hearts

¹² For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature, do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶ on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

O God, by nature, we’ve all sinned against You, but we have been redeemed in Your grace. Holy Spirit, teach our hearts to dwell on Your word and laws, for they benefit our growth. As Christians, let us not seek what that unrighteous want, which is this fallen world’s immediate reward. Our rewards lay with You.

If we’ve sinned, O God, forgive and lead us to a better understanding of Your attributes, promises, and responsibilities.

Do not Act like Hypocrites

“17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonour God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written,”“The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.””¹⁷ But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸ and know his will and approve what is excellent because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹ and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law dishonour God by breaking the law. ²⁴ For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

O Jesus, let not our minds and hearts deceive ourselves by boasting in our righteousness and become blind like the Pharisees. That our faith and obedience is to please You always.

When we share our knowledge of You, let it be the truth, unlike the unrighteous ones who love falsehood and desire affirmation in their power and greed.

Let all our teachings be truthful with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Teach us how to abhor idols and resist temptation that is unprofitable to our souls.

Matter of the Heart

²⁵ For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ²⁶ So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? ²⁷ Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. ²⁸ For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹ But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

The law has condemned us, and we must repent to our God, for he wishes us to love Him and love this personal relationship with Him. Holy Spirit led us closer to Jesus, for we desire to be nearer You and learn what is pure, profitable, and suitable for everyone. Call our hearts to Your steadfast love.

Morning, November 3rd, 2023

“And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,”— Acts 9:11

Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul began to pray the Lord heard him. Here is comfort for the distressed but praying soul.

Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God and treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven.

“Thou puttest my tears into thy bottle,” implies that they are caught as they flow. The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High. He may only look up with misty eye; but “prayer is the falling of a tear.”

Tears are the diamonds of heaven; sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah’s court, and are numbered with “the sublimest strains that reach the majesty on high.” Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be unregarded.

Jacob’s ladder is lofty, but our prayers shall lean upon the Angel of the covenant and so climb its starry rounds. Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it. “He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.”

True, He regards not high looks and lofty words; He cares not for the pomp and pageantry of kings; He listens not to the swell of martial music; He regards not the triumph and pride of man; but wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sigh, the heart of Jehovah is open; He marks it down in the registry of His memory; He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom.

     “Faith asks no signal from the skies,
       To show that prayers accepted rise,
     Our Priest is in His holy place,
       And answers from the throne of grace.”

Charles Spurgeon

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources

• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%202&version=ESV
• Spurgeon devotion: https://spurgeonsmorningandevening.org/2023/11/03/morning-november-3rd-2023/

God’s Righteous Judgment

Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another, you condemn yourself because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5. Still, because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

O God, Your Sovereignty of judging humanity is much superior to man. You show no partiality and consider accordingly to our work accordingly. We’re condemning ourselves by our own sinful nature. No one will escape Your righteous judgment. The righteous will have their rewards, and those who are unrighteous will have their just punishments.

God’s Kindness

Your kindness is meant to lead us into our repentance, turning away Your wrath from us. Your patience toward us has bewildered my mind. Every day, I seek to please You as I pray and read over the Scripture. Or learned how to live my life to your statutes so that I may glorify Your name. I pray that I may not fail in my attempt to be alone with You.

A Self-Seeker

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honour and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

O Spirit, let me not be a self-seeker but one that goes the cross in continual confession. Guide our hearts and minds to do good, and if we judge others unjustly, forgive us. Teach us to practice love, patience, and righteousness that pleases You.

Your Promises

“In Your promises, I’ll dwell and hope.””I trust in You at all times, pouring my heart before You. God is my refuge” Psalm 62: “In Your promises, I’ll dwell and hope. “I trust in You at all times, pouring my heart before You. God is my refuge” Psalm 62

O Jesus, our perfect and steadfast love Savior. I cannot imagine a better way of living than the one You’ve set out for us. Your grace and kindness are poured upon our souls. Leading us to repentance when we do wrong. Never once should we want to look back with regrets at our state of a low estate we were living before You saved us. You are our God, and we’re your people.

Time Alone With God

My prayer over the Book of Romans was enriching and fulfilling to my soul and heart. It’s with pleasure I hope you learned to pray over Scripture with a genuine heart to let the Holy Spirit lead you in confession and thanksgiving. I started to pray over the book of Romans in January 2023 and only shared my prayers with you now. It is important to be alone with God in prayer over His word. Prayers don’t have to be long or complicated. We’re praying with confidence to a God who wants to hear us. We are then developing a relationship with God.

God’s Wrath

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

O God, how beautiful, perfect, and holy is Your righteousness. If we love Your righteousness, holiness, and perfection, we must also accept Your wrath upon the ungodly and unrighteous who suppressed the truth. If there is no wrath of God, then there will be no justice. Our souls cry and demand justice from a holy God.

Call to Repentance

19 For what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them.

God, You have called Your people to repentance since the beginning. Your grace and mercy called the lost souls daily, unceasingly mercifully, to those who hate You. O Brother Jesus and King, You know how we respond to Your call of saving grace. Forgive our sins and become worshippers of a holy, perfect, and merciful God.

Believe! Believe! Turn away from worshipping yourself or those who contract the Almighty God and believe in Jesus Christ.

God’s Invisible Attributes

20 For since the world’s Creation, God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

Your eternal power and divine nature have been declared since the Creation of this world. You are our God and King, and we shall abide in your and not make ourself bow to others gods(John 15:7-8).

Dishonoring God

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

The unrighteous and ungodly knew about You but would dishonour a holy and just God instead. The unrighteous claimed to be wiser and more powerful, the divine God who controls history and this world He created.

Jesus Christ came in the flesh with power and authority, claimed those who the Father gave into His hand and owned this created world. The fools exchanged the glory of the immortal God and instead built themselves idiotic images and asked the world to bow and worship them.

The unrighteous and ungodly mocked those who want to worship the true God. The One who can destroy and stop all this warring, sickness, and suffering.

Oh, Jesus, You have already won the battle. Let us carry our cross and let the fools destroy himself/herself in their own pride, greed, and foolishness. We will honour YOu with our praises and prayers.

Let’s Go Pray!

Resources:

• https://www.biblehub.com/romans/1.htm

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!

Resources

• https://spurgeonsmorningandevening.org/2023/10/11/morning-october-11th-2023/

• https://www.biblehub.com/esv/romans/1.htm

Obedience of Faith

Mighty God, You promised beforehand in the holy Scripture about Your Son Jesus. Your Son was declared authoritative and powerful above all other men and authorities. Help us to be each day in prayer and supplication as Jesus Christ did in the flesh while he was among us.

As I mentioned months ago, I started praying over the Book of Romans, and now I’ll share those public prayers with you, hoping that you also pray over any book of the Bible.

Set Apart

1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

Jesus Christ, our Lord, You gave us grace and mercy so that we desire obedience to Your word. We are loved by God and called to be saints. O Father, Your grace upon our souls is the greatest gift we could receive. By Your grace, You’ve shown us Your steadfast love and set us apart for declaring the gospel to others that they also may live.

Son of God

3regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

O sweet Jesus, You’ve come, ministered to us the mystery of the gospel, and sacrificed yourself for us at the cross, fulfilling Your promises. Your death and resurrection proved to us. You have the power over death, earth, and hell and defeated Satan. You’ve already won a battle, and feel assured of our eternal future with You.

Obedience of faith

5Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the observation that comes from faith.

Holy Spirit, teach us through Christ’s grace how to obey Scripture. Forgive our iniquities, for we must endure for a bit longer: For the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not from the Father but is from the world( 1 John 2:16). O Jesus, we pray with supplication, and You answered us that we may know the will of God.

Love by God

7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Pour Your grace and peace upon our souls. We know You have called us to be saints in Christ.

Let’s Go Pray!

RESOURCES

• https://www.biblehub.com/romans/1.htm