Living in the Spirit
October 18, 2022
Scripture Reading:
Have you completely rejected Judah?
Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We look for peace, but find no good;
for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you.
Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our God?
We set our hope on you,
for it is you who do all this. –Jeremiah 14:19-22
We look for peace but are we willing to give up the wickedness that steals our peace? What price is change and are we willing to invest it? Perhaps what we need from God is the consistent affirmation that we have the strength to change our behavior. God created us with that strength, but we must choose to use it. God promises us that the Spirit will be our backup when our strength seems to weaken.
One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 8:26:
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
We can count on it.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for interceding when we do not have the words to deal with our weaknesses. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.