I don't feel like praying or reading the Bible today

Romans 8:26-27

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 with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

I came back from Batam yesterday all fired up spiritually - refreshed and excited for the works of the Lord. And definitely, I was expecting myself to be able to take on anything that comes my way in the new week ahead.

But that didn't happen....

• This morning I woke up with a bad headache...
• I reached office and realised I have 3 voice messages awaiting my attention...
• I opened my email and discovered I have 40 plus emails to read and attend to...
• I have to conduct a workshop tonight in a school..

All these totally affected my mood, and not to mention even my mood in reading the Bible. Whatever I read somehow just didn't sink into me. I just couldn't conjure up the mood to pray - I was lost for words in prayer.

Do you feel like this too sometimes / many times?

What happened next was definitely God's work. I started praying in tongues. At first it started off really very lethargically (almost like dragging my feet).. but I literally forced myself to keep praying and I opened up the Bible and started reading through Romans as I prayed.

I began to realize that the more I prayed and read the Word, the more energized in my Spirit I became.

My attention started to switch - from the problems and challenges I face or anticipated to God!

Suddenly, the above scripture caught my attention! Somehow I have no words to express myself, but when I prayed in the Spirit, I was able to connect to God. It definitely has to be the works of the Holy Spirit connecting us!

What illuminated my mind next was the scripture onwards in Romans 8:28-38

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 likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? 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 is he that condemns? 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.

We can be conquerors in Christ not because we are capable and can handle many things. Neither is it because we are smart and can be very efficient in the work give to us. We also also not stupid and lousy because we cannot complete our work!

We are conquerors because WE LOVE GOD (vs. 28) & HE LOVES US (vs. 37)!! And when we choose to love God, our focus and attention is on Him and not on the worries and problems we face. And that gives us that boost to go about facing these challenges because we know (in our minds, hearts and spirit) that GOD IS WITH US!!

My problems will still be there at the end of the day and I will have to bite the bullet and go through them. But what sets me apart and that I won't crumble nor be crippled is that I can cling onto God! My assurance is in the love of God who will NEVER leave me!

When I go through the trials and challenges, HE IS WITH ME!

Now, that's more important that just hoping that my problems disappear.

Thank you Lord for teaching me this precious truth today!