The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "24/7" for Wednesday, 9 November 2016 with Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "24/7" for Wednesday, 9 November 2016 with Scripture: Romans 8:31 What, then, are we to say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all — is it possible that, having given us his Son, he would not give us everything else too? 33 So who will bring a charge against God’s chosen people? Certainly not God — he is the one who causes them to be considered righteous! 34 Who punishes them? Certainly not the Messiah Yeshua, who died and — more than that — has been raised, is at the right hand of God and is actually pleading on our behalf! 35 Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War? 36 As the Tanakh puts it,
“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”[Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)]
37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
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Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.[Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)]
A friend asked me, “What have you learned about God that you didn’t expect to learn?” After taking some time for reflection, I replied that when I first accepted Christ I viewed God as someone who was always there but only to be called upon when absolutely needed. My thinking was that I shouldn’t overuse the privilege of talking with God or overload God with specific prayers. Maybe I thought that my requests shouldn’t compete with all the other prayers that were surely more significant than mine. I thought my interaction with God should follow the instructions on the sign I have seen in public places: “Use Only in Case of Emergency.”
Over the years, as I’ve tried to grow in my Christian faith, my perspective has changed dramatically. I now believe that God wants to be part of my life at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We were created to know God. I still struggle with comprehending that the God who created the universe also wants to be in constant fellowship with me. But I know it’s true; that’s how much God loves us. We can do our part in the relationship through prayer, devotions, meditating on God’s word, and striving to live a life that’s pleasing to God.
The Author: John D. Bown (Minnesota, USA)
Thought for the Day: God is with us and wants a relationship with us 24/7.
Prayer: Loving God, we rejoice that you created us to know you. Help us to seek a deeper relationship with you each moment of every day. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE STRUGGLING TO PRAY

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