APRIL 28, 2023 – DEPENDENT AND CONFIDENT

READ: Rom. 8:28-39                                          

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. – Matt. 6:13b

In our lives, we depend on God as our Father. There is nothing we can contribute of ourselves for our salvation. That makes us humble, but at the same time it gives us rich comfort. In the last words of the Lord’s Prayer, we express this in faith with a confession of dependence and trust. This statement indicates the basis of all our prayers: all things are from God and through God and to God (Rom. 11:36).

We have been called by Him out of the realm of darkness of sin and death, to be transferred into His Kingdom of the light of life and grace. He calls us by His Word as Gospel and by His Holy Spirit, who make us accept His Word and believe in Him. In His Word, God comes to us with His love to deliver us from sin and death through His Son.

He now controls us so much by His Word and Spirit that we obediently follow Him as our King. We know ourselves safe and secure with Him. We trust in Him. We even know that He makes all things work together for good for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). He will even turn evil to good for us. He preserves us in such a way that no hair can fall from our heads without His will (Matt. 10:30). 

Yes, He guides us by the power of His Spirit so that nothing and no one can separate us in life or death from His love in Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:38,39). In this way, He leads us through suffering to eternal glory. This certainty of faith also gives us certainty of God’s hearing of our prayers.

When should we doubt the answer to prayer?

Singing: Ps. 4:2