“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
Because of our sinful nature, we don’t know and understand our real needs — what is good for us and what is not. How comforting it is to know that the Spirit of God, who dwells in the hearts of God’s children (cf. Gal. 3:26-27), is interceding for them in accord with the will of God — asking for those things which are for our eternal well-being!
O Holy Spirit, thank you for interceding on my behalf and asking for and seeking those things that are for my eternal good. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God’s love for the world, His love for each and every one of us, is demonstrated in this: He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die on the cross and bear the full punishment for our sins, with the desire and intent that we would repent of our sinful ways and place our faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross and not be condemned to the eternal fires of hell but receive God’s mercy, forgiveness, and life everlasting!
O gracious and loving God, grant me faith to trust in Christ Jesus for pardon, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
In the same way as Moses, in the wilderness, lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole and those bitten by the fiery serpents could look in faith and live rather than die (Numbers 21), so sinners who look in faith to Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross will not be condemned to eternal death for their sins but be pardoned, forgiven and have everlasting life.
Grant, dear Jesus, that I look to You and Your cross in faith for forgiveness and life eternal. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:24-25
Hope, as it is used in the Bible, is based on the promises of God’s Word. Though we cannot yet see their fulfillment with our eyes, we believe the promises of God are true — that we have God’s pardon and forgiveness through faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus and that He will raise us up on the Last Day and grant unto us and all believers in Christ the everlasting joys of heaven, where we will be without sin and its curse and serve God in true righteousness and holiness. Our hope rests in God and His Word, and we await the fulfillment of all God has promised us.
O Christ, we thank You for winning for us forgiveness and life everlasting. Come soon and take us to dwell with You forever in Your holy and glorious kingdom. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
The Spirit of God works through His Word to create and sustain faith in Jesus Christ. We often see the results of His work in people’s hearts, but we do not know when and where He will work next, except that it will be where the Word of God is rightly taught and where Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are used according to the teaching of God’s Word.
O Holy Spirit, grant that Your life-giving Word may take root in my life and my faith in Christ Jesus grows ever stronger. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
