Thoughts on Romans - Day 22

                                                    Romans 8:26-30

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
²⁸ 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. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.


         For so many years I didn't understand what salvation really is. (I probably still don't) I knew I was forgiven of my sins and going to Heaven and somehow Jesus was inside me so wherever I went He went, so avoid doing that and going there and looking at that. But what I didn't understand was the transforming power of the Spirit. He came to take control. Just like Spiderman who got bitten by the radioactive spider, my genetic code was being changed. (figuratively) Peter Parker was able to climb walls, have supernatural strength, sense danger, spin webs, etc. His whole being was changed - he was a new person. When we get saved the Holy Spirit comes inside our life and changes us into the image of His Son. Not instantly of course because we still need to let the old self get out of the way and embrace the new. Just like the ill-fated Spiderman 3, we can refuse to let Him take over and become powerless and unchanged and painful to watch.

        How do we allow these changes to take over us? God brings suffering and difficulties into our lives to make us realize how much we need Him and depend on Him. It drives us to our knees and we pray, "God take this difficulty away from me". Meanwhile the Holy Spirit is interceding for us to the One who sees inside of us and the Holy Spirit is saying, "Not yet. He still needs more death to self". 

 This gives a whole new understanding to Romans 8:28 when we see it in this light. Paul is saying , "In the process of you becoming a 'little Jesus', God finds it necessary to strip off the old you through difficulties in life because if everything is going smoothly why would anyone want to change things up? You may beg God to change your circumstances, and BTW He does love you coming to Him - that is one of the main reasons He allows those things is to drive you closer, but God has a life manager inside you telling Him what you really need. You may be praying, "Lord, deliver me from this problem and please do such and such." Meanwhile the Holy Spirit inside of us is praying a better prayer that may even be contrary to what we are praying, but it will lead to a better solution to the problem and enhance God's goal of having you become more like him. What God is going to do in this situation may not look like what you want and not at all how you would solve it, but know this, it will be the perfect solution to the problem in regards to making you more like His Son, Jesus. He was the first to be raised from the dead and he is in the process of resurrecting you."  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf8Zzn4nOzc

         Lord, thank You that you have a plan for my life that includes stripping away the old me and making a new me that looks more and more like Your Son. Help me to be still and not resist the transformation. Amen