When we are Born Again by the blood of the Lamb, God's
Spirit replaces the carnal nature in our soul with the divine nature of Christ (2 Peter
1:3-4; Galatians 2:20). He is constantly perfecting us by His Spirit who
abides in our spirit. He takes away our desire to sin, and unrighteous living
no longer appeals to us.
God's Spirit helps our weaknesses and illnesses. He
searches our heart and knows our mind; then He prays for us according to the
will of God (Romans 8:26-27). Prayer is speaking to God from
our heart. Ritualistic prayers and formulas for prayer are unnecessary. God
already knows our heart and wants to hear our own words (Ephesians
1:18).
God also places His prayer burdens on our heart for the
lost people groups in our world, for the persecuted church, for those burdened
by illness, for people devastated by the loss of a loved one through death or
divorce, our unsaved loved ones, etc. Prayer prepares us for victory both in
life and in death. Jesus removed the sting of death, and gave authentic
Believers the victory over it through His resurrection (1
Corinthians 15:54; Isaiah 25:8).
In fact, there is greater benefit for us to go Home to the
glory of Heaven than to continue living life here on this sin-cursed earth.
Dying is not the travesty of life; it is the benefit of a life lived in Christ.
What the world views as death is actually victory to God and is used by
God for our ultimate good, because God rejoices in the death of His Saints (Romans
8:28; Psalm 116:15).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You that,
through Christ, death is swallowed up in victory. We know that Your Holy Spirit
works in our heart, until the glorious day when either Christ returns for His
Bride, or we come through the valley of death into Your glorious light (1 Peter 2:9; Isaiah 60:1). Remind us not to limit You by our thoughts and fears, but
teach us to pray the words, which Your Spirit inspires us with and with which
He breaks our heart (Romans 8:26).
Thought for the Day:
Once we realize our human
limitations, we will rely on God's Spirit to pray through us during our life
and escort us through death to our heavenly Home in glory. - Romans 8:26-34; 2
Corinthians 5:1
