Pause

It's hard to explain where inspiration comes from. A great book, a hard-hitting speech, insight about a scientific breakthrough - they often come from out of nowhere. Or so it seems.

Coming to a new understanding about God is inspirational too, by definition. Prepare your heart to follow the Spirit's leading.

Listen

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Romans 8:14-17

Think

In 1999, we adopted our oldest daughter from Russia. She was ten years old when she became part of our family, joining a five-year-old brother and a three-year-old sister. She had no possessions in the orphanage — they even made her give back her toothbrush before she left! She came to America timid and a little bit fearful. Were we giving her new clothes only to take them away later? Would this be forever or would it be another temporary home like her parents’ house and like the orphanage?

We have done our best for 13 years to convince her that she never needs, as Paul says, “to fall back into fear.” She has received the gift of adoption, and will always be a member of our family, just as we have been adopted into God’s family.

Remember today that if you will be led by the Spirit of God, then you are a child of God.

Steve Cothran

Pray

Abba! Thank you for adopting me as one of your children. Lead me by your Spirit today and always. Amen.

Go

Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!

Romans 15:13 (The Message)