Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “Romans 5

Dividing Soul and Spirit

KATHY GABLER–The Holy Spirit can divide soul and spirit so that the issues of the heart-mind can become obvious (see Heb.4:12). Honest confrontation of one’s own heart is the starting place for emotional healing and deliverance. Trials and tribulations are common to all and are ideally supposed to come to good results that bring us to maturity in the image of Christ. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character. (Rom 5:3,4) However, we can refuse to persevere, refuse to submit to change and refuse to mature in character by simply being offended by trouble. I believe this type of offense is common to many: either we are angry at inequity or injustice or disappointments, or we fear those things. We can choose to let go of the anger and fear and walk away trusting God with the big picture, knowing that today’s circumstances are just one scene; or we can buy into the short-term blitz and use a mood as a force to try to change the conditions and the people around us.


Alert Expectancy

As the people of Father God assemble today may His people have a sense of the more that is to come of His purposes and His outpourings. May the hope of receiving and participating fill their hearts with expectancy.   “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary–we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Rom.5:5, Msg)


Eyes Open Wider

As the people of God assemble today may their eyes open even wider to the wonders of their God and to His plans in this earth and to His grace that enables His sons and daughters to overcome and reign in life. Rom.5:17, TPT — “Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!”

Hearts of Expectancy

As the people of God assemble today may His people have a sense of the more that is to come of His purposes and His outpourings. May the hope of receiving and participating fill their hearts with expectancy. “In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary–we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Rom.5:5, Msg)


Warmth of God’s Love

WinterHugWarmAs the people of God assemble today let them rejoice in the warmth of God’s selfless, giving love. Rom.5:5, TLB — “Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”


How Long are Fiery Trials?

HeatFurnaceKathy — I’ve asked the Lord many times, “How long are fiery trials supposed to last?” I’d like to say He answered, “Twenty minutes to twenty days, max!” However, we have all lived long enough to know better. He patiently explains to me, again, that time is not the issue in trials. Results are the issue. While we watch the clock or calendar during trials, God looks at the growth, maturity and changes in us. (Rom.5:3-4)


Character and the Heat of Trials

If we study the progression of Romans 5:4, (trials then perseverance then character then hope), we begin to understand the real issues. Threshold wars are waged when Blacksmiththe heat of trials gets our character to a red-hot blaze, like the point when metal can be changed and re-shaped. That is the point when the heat makes it tempting to quit and run to the nearest place of relief rather than complete the process by submitting to the Blacksmith’s hammer. So these wars are screaming the question while we’re in the heat of battle: “Will you do the right thing, let God change your heart and mind where necessary? Will you choose to respond to trials with wisdom and develop godly character; or will you remain the same person, refusing to be conformed to His image?” And our answer at this point will either propel us on to hope and toward promise, or cause us to fall short of hope and promise.


Experience and the Future

Sometimes all the enemy has to do is remind us of old battles. It is easy to allow experience to decide our future, but it is not the will of our Father. Experiences God-thinkingshould mature us… not rule over us. If we allow experience to be the final authority and dominate our thinking, we forfeit hope. According to the Word, we must persevere through experiences to get to hope: Rom 5:3-4 “…but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” (KJV) It is interesting that several translations substitute the word “character” for “experience.” “Endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” (RSV). Experiences are meant to process and strengthen our character, not become a set of expectations that overshadow our future. —Kathy Gabler