OUR DAILY BREAD : REACHING UP TO HEAVEN

[cimi]

March 15
Sunday


REACHING
UP TO HEAVEN

READ:
Romans 8:18-27
_________________________________________

The Spirit Himself
makes intercession for
us with groanings which
cannot be uttered.
__Romans 8:26
_______________________________________

I see children reach up their hands to their mothers, eager to get their attention. It reminds me of my own efforts to reach up to God in prayer.

The early church stated that the work of the aged is to love and to pray. Of the two, I find love to be the most difficult, and prayer to be the most confusing. My infirmity lies in not knowing the exact thing for which I ought to pray. Should I pray that others will be delivered from their troubles--or that their troubles will go away? Or should I pray for courage to carry on through the difficulties that belabor them?

I'm comforted by Paul's words: "The Spirit also helps in our weakness" (Rom. 8:26). Here the apostle uses a verb that means, "to help by joining in an activity or effort." God's Spirit is joined to ours when we pray. He intercedes for us "with groanings which cannot be uttered." He is touched by our troubles; He sighs often as He prays. He cares for us deeply--more than we care for ourselves. Furthermore, He prays "according to the will of God" (v.27). He knows the right words to say.

Therefore, I needn't worry about getting my request exactly right. I need only to hunger for God and to reach up, knowing that He cares.
__David Roper
_____________________________________________________________

`````````````O God, too weak and worn for words, I shrink``````````
`````````````From trials that deeply wound, and yet to think`````````
`````````````````Your Holy Spirit helps me as I pray```````````````
``````````And gives a voice to what I cannot say! __Gastafson```````
_____________________________________________________________

When praying, it's better to have a heart without
words than words without heart.

**************Today's Bible REading __ Romans 8:18-27***********

18 for I consider that the
sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be
compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation
of the creation eagerly waits
for the revealing of the sons
of God. 20 For the creation
was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him
who subjected it in hope;

21 because the creation itself
also will be delivered from
the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of
the children of God. 27 For
we know that the whole
creation groans and labors
with birth pangs together
until now. 23 Not only that,
but we also who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even
we ourselves groan within
ourselves, eagerly waiting for
the adoption, the redemption
of our body. 24 For we were
saved in this hope, but hope
that is seen is not hope; for
why does one still hope for
what he sees? 25 But if we
hope for what we do not see,
we eagerly wait for it with
perseverance.

26 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. 27 Now He who
searches the hearts knows
what the mind of the Spirit
is, because He makes
intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Our personal weaknesses should remind us of our need for the Holy
Spirit's help in living the Christian life (Rom. 8:26). The Greek word
for "weaknesses" may include physical, emotional, and spiritual
disability. The word for "helps" in this verse pictures someone aiding
another who is carrying a heavy load. __Dennis Fisher