Encouragement from Romans 8

Sometimes when I sit down to read the Bible, God uses His Word to speak so directly to me that I feel like He is sitting at the table with me teaching me!  Of course, it doesn't always happen that way. Sometimes I read the Bible and don't necessarily feel like it touched me or like I know how to apply it to my life.  I know that reading God's Word is always good for me though, so I press on trusting God will use what I read even if I don't really know how.

Yesterday though, was one of those "God speaking right to my heart" times.

Josh and I have felt the attack of the Enemy a little more than usual lately.  I'm not sure why, but it seems like Satan has doubled his efforts against us.

The specifics of these attacks aren't want I want to tell you about though, I'd much rather tell you about how AWESOME the God who fights for us is!

What shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

 
Yesterday I went looking for that verse!  I wanted to remind myself that he who is against us has NOTHING on the One who is for us!  But let me tell you, I was blown away by ALL that God had to say to me as I read the context of Romans 8:31!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 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 8:28-39 NIV

God is so gracious and kind to call us and empower us to love Him AND to promise to work all things together for my good! 

Satan can accuse and strive to condemn me over and over, but the reality is that I am washed clean by the blood of Christ!  Not only am I forgiven, but I am God's chosen daughter.  He loves me and fights for me!

Nothing, NOTHING can separate me from the love of Christ!

I am a conqueror because of Jesus!  I fight on the winning team!  God is for me, so no one can successfully stand against me!  Praise the Lord!

If you are a follower of Christ, then all of these truths apply to you too!  Praise the Lord!