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 means to speak 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 unbelieving 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 every authentic Born Again Believer 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). We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture and He delights in us and rejoices over us with singing (Psalm 149:4; Zephaniah 3:17). Jesus prayed that we would be one with Him and with our Father God (John 17:21-22).
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 Biblical words, which Your Spirit inspires us with and with which He convicts us and heals our heart (Romans 8:26).
You unite us with Your heart and give us one way to salvation that we may honor You forever. This is good not only for us, but for our children who come after us (Jeremiah 32:39). Remind us that everyone will know that we are Your disciples because we have love for each other (John 13:35). Teach us how to trust You with our whole heart and to consult You for Your will in every decision we ever have to make (Proverbs 3:5-6). We live as a praise to Your name alone.
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. Eternal life is knowing Jesus in a personal relationship and the one true God. Jesus prayed that God would keep those whom He gave to Jesus and to make us one with the Trinity of God.
- Romans 8:26-34; 2 Corinthians 5:1; John 17:3,11,22-23
