Holy Days
Feast of Weeks
Romans 7:14-25 The Message
14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
"I'm
not just that spiritual. I feel odd, phony, when I try to pray. God
knows my insincerity. God will never answer my prayer."
Get over it. Stop whining! Quit making excuses for not praying. Even Paul questioned his spirituality. So why can't you question your spirituality?
Sure, prayer at first may feel awkward. So what? Maybe your prayer isn't answered the way you want it to be. Maybe the reason for prayer isn't all about God giving you an edge or removing an impediment to your accomplishment or your comfort. Maybe your discomfort arises from your lack of trust in God and not your supposition of God's opinion of you. Maybe, just maybe, in spite of everything, when you pray your relationship with God will become more intimate; your comfort level with prayer will improve, your wisdom will become more God centered, your hunger for something spiritual will result in a more satisfying spiritual life.
Pray daily, quietly, and alone. Talk to God.
Pray
Get over it. Stop whining! Quit making excuses for not praying. Even Paul questioned his spirituality. So why can't you question your spirituality?
Sure, prayer at first may feel awkward. So what? Maybe your prayer isn't answered the way you want it to be. Maybe the reason for prayer isn't all about God giving you an edge or removing an impediment to your accomplishment or your comfort. Maybe your discomfort arises from your lack of trust in God and not your supposition of God's opinion of you. Maybe, just maybe, in spite of everything, when you pray your relationship with God will become more intimate; your comfort level with prayer will improve, your wisdom will become more God centered, your hunger for something spiritual will result in a more satisfying spiritual life.
Pray daily, quietly, and alone. Talk to God.
Pray
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