Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
Rom. 1:8-13, 8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.”
Understand:
Paul was apparently aware that some in Rome may have been critical of him for “ignoring” them for so long. He wanted them to know that this is because of a lack of opportunity, not of will. We are not sure what kept Paul from making the trip to Rome. Though the need was pressing for him to make it, the opportunity had not been there.
Apply:
Need does not equal call. There are many things to feel bad about. Many things we could do. Should do. Don’t do. Often, it’s not because we don’t care or think these things are unimportant; we can only do what we can do. Don’t be driven by guilt. Don’t be burdened by failure or focused on all you are not doing. Be faithful. Don’t hold back from sacrifice…time, effort, resources…if God has called you to it. It is not helpful, though, to spend your life feeling bad about all you are not doing.
Do what God has put in front of you to do. If you should be doing something else…go do it. If, as best you can tell, you are doing what should or must be done…do it with all your heart and without guilt for what you are not doing.
Guilt is not a good engine to drive our lives. It will not drive us toward love, joy, and God.
*From what you have just read and considered: What is a personal implication/application for your life today?
Live:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today. KEEP PRAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.