40 Days of Prayer – Youth Devotional Day 20

ENLIVENED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST ROMANS 8:11  

The apostle Paul begins this section of Scripture by speaking of a great truth. In chapter 7,  he spoke of the struggle between our flesh, that is our sinful nature, and our desire to obey  and follow God. We often want to honor Christ, and yet we fail to—we do the opposite.  Paul reminds us that there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ (see Romans 8:1).  Why is that?  

Christ was condemned on our behalf so that we could be justified and made right with God!  This is something that we can take much comfort in. Paul brings up this contrast between  the flesh and the Spirit. The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Those of us who are in  Christ have the Spirit dwelling inside of us. We are now the temple of God. Paul is trying to  emphasize something here—we are different now.  

We have died with Christ and have been risen with Christ. Our old self is dead. Now, the  Spirit lives within us. In fact, the Spirit raised Christ from the dead, and the same Spirit now  lives in you—think about that for a minute or two. Paul wants us to see that the Spirit enables  us to destroy sin. It is not our own works but the work of the Spirit in us who gives life to us! 

PRAYER POINTS: 

1. Before you leave for school, ask the Lord to remind you of your  identity in Christ. 

2. During lunch, ask God to help you kill sin in your life—whether it be  pride, envy, status, etc.—by the power of the Spirit and to empower  you to submit to Him. 

3. Before you put your head on your pillow, reflect on how the day  went, repent of any sin, and thank God for Christ who stood  

condemned in your place.  

»by Dwayne Sommersell