Romans 12:12

Romans 12:12

Thoughts from Josh Talbot

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QOP- Swipe
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“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

QOP- Behind the Scenes
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After six weeks of focus on prayer, how are you feeling? Do you have a better handle on it? Are you seeing any differences in your prayer life? Are you more comfortable with the concept, purpose, and benefits?

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I think prayer is one of those disciplines that takes practice – honing our skills and finetuning our method. Which actually seems strange to me because prayer is simply having a conversation with my friend Jesus. I don’t have to practice talking with any of my other friends. It comes naturally. It’s enjoyable. I look forward to it. So what’s the difference?

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I think one of the major differences is that we don’t take the time to build a relationship with Jesus. In our verse today, it says we are to be “constant in prayer.” What does that look like? The word constant here is the Greek word proskartereo, meaning to be devoted to, to give constant attention to a thing, to be in constant readiness for one.

Slide

As we’ve discussed in earlier weeks, prayer is not about fancy language, eloquent speech, or the “right” words. It’s about falling at the feet of Jesus to lift up our voice to God our Father, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to be “constant in prayer”.

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Our passage today falls in the middle of Paul calling people to love one another, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12

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Loving one another can be tough. People can be tough to love. How do we love one another well? We “rejoice in hope” and we’re “patient in tribulation”. Our hope here is our joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. We know the end of the story, so no matter how hard it is to love others or endure what others have done to us, we have a hope of something so much bigger.

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And what does it mean to be patient in tribulation? This word patient is the Greek word hypomeno, meaning persevering, to remain, abide, not recede or flee. We are to persevere and lean into this tribulation. And the only way we can do that is by being constant in prayer. A constant connection to our Savior and God our Father through the Holy Spirit.

QOP- Make it Real
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Honestly for our verse today, I would have reversed the order. Because the only way to “rejoice in hope” and to be “patient in tribulation” is by being “constant in prayer”. I know when my focus is continually on the things of God, the everyday of life that can wear me down and literally destroy me, shrinks. Not that my troubles become less but that they are just clearly smaller than my God.

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As I was writing this, we received some really bad news about my mother-in-law’s cancer. It was not the news we were hoping or praying for. Her cancer has spread throughout her body, and her pain is increasing. Needless to say, we are all crushed. BUT God. As I turn to Him, constantly in prayer, for her health and my family’s faith, I draw nearer to God. I have that joyful hope of her healing – either through a miracle or through her eternal healing when He calls her home. So, I can persevere through this, and I can love my family well. When my emotions seem to overwhelm me to the point that being around people is hard, I can lean in and love them well.

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Without fancy words, and sometimes without words at all, I can pray constantly. With the power of the Spirit and knowing how good our God is and that nothing is wasted in His economy, I can present my fears, my sadness, my anger, my frustration, my last ounce of hope and energy to God, and He will lift me up. He will sustain me. He will carry me on wings like eagles. I can run and not grow weary. I think that’s what it looks like to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

QOP- End in Prayer
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Father, Healer, Provider. Thank You that You have me. You have empowered me to love the lovable and unlovable even when I am at my lowest. You have given me strength and hope and blessings. God, for those who are feeling at the end of themselves, may they rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. In Jesus’s name ~ AMEN.

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“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” 

Romans 12:12

Behind the Scenes

After six weeks of focus on prayer, how are you feeling? Do you have a better handle on it? Are you seeing any differences in your prayer life? Are you more comfortable with the concept, purpose, and benefits? 

I think prayer is one of those disciplines that takes practice – honing our skills and finetuning our method. Which actually seems strange to me because prayer is simply having a conversation with my friend Jesus. I don’t have to practice talking with any of my other friends. It comes naturally. It’s enjoyable. I look forward to it. So what’s the difference?  

I think one of the major differences is that we don’t take the time to build a relationship with Jesus. In our verse today, it says we are to be “constant in prayer.” What does that look like? The word constant here is the Greek word proskartereo, meaning to be devoted to, to give constant attention to a thing, to be in constant readiness for one.  

As we’ve discussed in earlier weeks, prayer is not about fancy language, eloquent speech, or the “right” words. It’s about falling at the feet of Jesus to lift up our voice to God our Father, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to be “constant in prayer”.  

Our passage today falls in the middle of Paul calling people to love one another, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12  

Loving one another can be tough. People can be tough to love. How do we love one another well? We “rejoice in hope” and we’re “patient in tribulation”. Our hope here is our joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. We know the end of the story, so no matter how hard it is to love others or endure what others have done to us, we have a hope of something so much bigger.  

And what does it mean to be patient in tribulation? This word patient is the Greek word hypomeno, meaning persevering, to remain, abide, not recede or flee. We are to persevere and lean into this tribulation. And the only way we can do that is by being constant in prayer. A constant connection to our Savior and God our Father through the Holy Spirit.  

Make It Real

Honestly for our verse today, I would have reversed the order. Because the only way to “rejoice in hope” and to be “patient in tribulation” is by being “constant in prayer”. I know when my focus is continually on the things of God, the everyday of life that can wear me down and literally destroy me, shrinks. Not that my troubles become less but that they are just clearly smaller than my God.  

As I was writing this, we received some really bad news about my mother-in-law’s cancer. It was not the news we were hoping or praying for. Her cancer has spread throughout her body, and her pain is increasing. Needless to say, we are all crushed. BUT God. As I turn to Him, constantly in prayer, for her health and my family’s faith, I draw nearer to God. I have that joyful hope of her healing – either through a miracle or through her eternal healing when He calls her home. So, I can persevere through this, and I can love my family well. When my emotions seem to overwhelm me to the point that being around people is hard, I can lean in and love them well.   

Without fancy words, and sometimes without words at all, I can pray constantly. With the power of the Spirit and knowing how good our God is and that nothing is wasted in His economy, I can present my fears, my sadness, my anger, my frustration, my last ounce of hope and energy to God, and He will lift me up. He will sustain me. He will carry me on wings like eagles. I can run and not grow weary. I think that’s what it looks like to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” 

Colleen McGeorge

Colleen McGeorge

ACF First Impressions and Groups Coordinator

End in Prayer

Father, Healer, Provider. Thank You that You have me. You have empowered me to love the lovable and unlovable even when I am at my lowest. You have given me strength and hope and blessings. God, for those who are feeling at the end of themselves, may they rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. In Jesus’s name ~ AMEN.  

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