praying effectively: Walk in Obedience (Rom.6:15-23)

(Romans 6:15-23)  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we should not sin (6:15)

- that we should be obedient from the heart, committed to God's teaching (6:17)

- that we should choose to be slaves of righteousness (6:16-19)

Today's prayer: 

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your gracious free gift of eternal life!  May we not take You or this gift for granted.  Help us choose to be slaves of righteousness, so that sin will be more and more unappealing.  Guide us in our commitment and our love for You, so that we will continue to learn more about You and Your will.  Give us the desire to continue maturing, in order to be more like You.  Amen.