Unashamed Reading Plan

Prayer

Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.

Bible Reading: Romans 15:30-33

Read these verses three times slowly.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Reflection & Questions

This week, we’re reading the final verses of Paul’s letter to the Roman church and what we are seeing is that Paul is ending very practically, with specific examples of people living out their faith, for his readers to pay attention to and mimic.

We read yesterday of his plans to visit the church, and Paul asks today for prayer for just that. He says, “join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” He prays for safety from unbelievers and for a successful delivery of the gift to the believers. What a great example for us to follow here. Paul, the Apostle, asks for prayer – and prayer for specific things. Crossroads, we are never beyond needing to ask for prayer, especially in achieving our mission of “leading every ONE to discover Jesus and follow Him fully.” We need to share our needs and ask for prayer.

There’s one other practical teaching here that is worth paying attention to specifically. As he thinks of his visit to the Romans, he says he wants to come in order that “in your company [he would] be refreshed.” Being with other believers is refreshing. It is an important discipline to build into our lives. A lonely soldier is a vulnerable soldier. Together, strength can be maintained and a mission achieved. If you are in need of refreshing, sometimes our first thought can be isolation. And at times that can be important. But getting around other believers, being in their company, can be a great lift to our souls.

1. Is there a situation in your life that you need to ask someone to pray for? Send them a text or give them a call.
2. How have you been refreshed by others in the past? Are you experiencing that in the present? Why or why not?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today: