20 Days of Prayer Day 16 "What Then Shall We Say?"
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that 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: 31 – 39).
Abba, Father, I thank You for making us Your sons and daughters, and promising that we will share in Christ’s inheritance. I thank You that You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I know that we have hope for glorification, but I also know that RIGHT NOW we are seated with Christ in Your presence. RIGHT NOW, Your joy is our strength - in our sickness, our isolation, our loneliness. You have made us to lie down in green pastures, and are inviting us to Your table to dine as our enemies watch, humiliated in their efforts to destroy us. Father, I ask that Your presence would be more tangible than ever, as many of us are isolated from one another and alone. I ask that Your presence would be as real as our closest friend sitting with us. Finally, Father, I ask that You would fill us with faith and hope during this time. I give you all praise, and honor, and glory! I pray in the name of Your precious Son, Jesus. Amen.
Robert Burns