Page 68 - Living Light Spring 2024

Tuesday May 21 - Groaning inwardly
...we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as
we wait... Romans 8:23
Today, are you one who is ‘groaning inwardly’, struggling with a long-standing challenge? Please do not ‘beat yourself up’, for our text is written to groaning, spirit- filled Christians! In fact, groaning is not just restricted to believers; here in Romans 8 we find creation groaning (v 22) and even the Holy Spirit (v 26)! If only we could see our groans as God sees them: as profound prayers, inexpressibly spoken in our inner being. In this context, even a sigh can become a prayer; the Greek word used here for ‘groaning’ literally means ‘sighing brought on by circumstances that create great pressure’. Have you ever sat on a chair and heard it sigh?
We must take care not to confuse moaning with groaning; our moans are often accusatory, blaming others for our lot. Whereas groans are cries for help, calling for a deliverer. This is seen in Exodus 2:23-25, when the captive Israelites ‘groaned in their slavery and cried out... God heard their groaning... and was concerned about them.’ Jesus groaned, on the occasion of Lazarus’ death; we read, ‘When Jesus therefore saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled’ (John 11:33 KJV).
Do you find yourself under pressure today – perhaps not knowing how to pray or even too exhausted to pray; crying inwardly, for relief and breakthrough? It’s okay to groan!
Father, we groan because we have a foretaste of what is to come. Come quickly, Lord! Amen.
Wednesday May 22 - Living hope!
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:25
Having foretasted future glory, we could be tempted to seek to escape the trials of life by asking for an early rapture – a sort of “I’m a Christian, get me out of here!” This may be the reality for celebrities but certainly not Christians. If you are like me, you long for the time when you will be taken to abide eternally with our heavenly Father. This future hope is secure, but it is yet to be realised. The Apostle Peter describes it as a ‘living hope’ made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3), giving us the assurance that we will also rise to inherit the blessings God has stored up for us. This living hope is a catalyst for joy and faith, even amid our trials and concerns for the future. It’s a hope that will not disappoint, knowing we ‘are being kept by the power of God because we put our trust in him’ (1 Peter 1:5 NLT).
Paul closes his discourse on God’s love with these words: ‘Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love’ (1 Corinthians 13:13). Hope is the middle pillar of three amazing Christian virtues, standing triumphantly alongside faith and love. There’s coming a day when faith and hope will receive their reward, but for now both are essential for they lift our heads above our circumstances! Hallelujah!
Father, I lift up my eyes to heaven, because there I find the source of my strength (Psalm 121:1). Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY