5. CAMPING OUT IN ROMANS

   

“God’s priority is that people understand his holy character. People may not feel their need of that, but there is nothing they need more than to have their minds exploded in their understanding of who God is. God” ~I found that reading the Scriptures with an expectant attitude, a spirit of obedience, a child like heart, and electric anticipation is a part of cultivating joy.
 On a personal level, I have lived with insecurity throughout my life.  I have struggled with physical issues. Retirement has plummeted our finances, leaving us somewhat insecure.
I've had little security in the areas of life I have most craved.
I have struggled with the notion of unconditional love and acceptance.
I have experienced rejection and betrayal from those I love, yet God has not and will not let go and I have the assurance and security in Him.

My most comforting and encouraging passage has always been Romans, 8:31-39, my security:

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
  ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 
 ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 
 ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 
 ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 
 ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
  ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  

(Romans 5)"When God saved us from our sins, we escaped his coming wrath but we don’t get to escape all the hardships that come along with this life. Instead, we get to live our lives with the presence of a loving Heavenly Father, who is always with us. He goes before us and guides,  comforts, strengthens and protects us."~Living Well Ministries

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