promise of righteousness

 Sunday, September 11, 2022 (7:33 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Holy God,

Good morning. Thank You.

There are fires nearby. And it’s a day of national remembrance of homeland terrorist attacks. Lots to be scared aware of and saddened by.

Blessed God, I’m turning to the Holy Spirit and Illustrated Bible Handbook. The apostle Paul’s words to the Romans. “Chapter 8. The Spirit’s Power… Final Glorification; 8:18-39. The promise of righteousness is for now - and for forever. What now seems a struggle will become full liberation when Jesus returns, when the fact of our sonship is made plain to all…”

(10:43 a.m.)

Thank You God that we get to keep coming back to Your goodness. Your grace. Your promises. Your Truth. Your best.

Trusting You to be all You claim, I continue my reading. “… Then even the Creation will share in a great purification, as every trace of sin is removed (18-25).” I confess to wondering if through all this present strife and turmoil, are we being purified?

“In the meantime we have the assurance that the Spirit ‘helps us in our weakness.’ We have the confidence that whatever enters our life is designed for good, that we might grow toward likeness to Jesus and our destiny (26-30).”

Holy God, it is You I trust. Turning to verses 26 and 27, I wholeheartedly ask the Holy Spirit to help us in our distress. “For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”