Romans 1:8-15

Romans 1:8 (ESV)
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”

Mutual Belonging
Did you catch it? Before Paul celebrates the faith of the Roman believers, he reveals something deeply personal. Paul, thanks who? “My God.” Those two simple words are worth slowing down long enough to let their weight settle on the heart. Paul is not speaking about a distant deity or a cosmic observer who watches history unfold from far away. For Paul, the God who formed galaxies, governs nations, and holds all things together was not only the God he devoted his entire life to, but the God who drew near enough to belong to him in a living, personal relationship.
 

It is easy to understand why Paul wanted God. The wonder of grace is that God invites that desire and desires us too, allowing Himself to be known, sought after, and even embraced as “my God,” creating a relationship of true mutual belonging. Scripture tells us that God draws near, offering Himself to be approached and held in a real, personal, and life-shaping connection (James 4:8). Paul could say “my God” because he lived each day in steady dependence on God’s grace, strength, and presence. He knew the Lord not only as Creator and King, but as Father, Helper, Sustainer, and Friend.

Do you have that kind of closeness with God that is real, steady, and personal, so much so that you could confidently say, “I am His, and He is mine”? If you do, pause and appreciate the humility and tenderness of a God who chooses to share that mutual belonging with you. If not, take heart. God desires to be known by you with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, just as Jesus calls us to in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30. He invites you into a relationship marked by nearness, trust, and love so that you, too, may one day say with confidence and joy, “My God.”

Practice This:

Choose one hour today and intentionally live it with the awareness that God is near to you. Before the hour begins, pray a short, honest prayer: “Lord, help me be aware of You as my God in this next hour.”

As the hour goes on
When a worry surfaces, whisper, “You are with me.”
When a joy comes, whisper, “Thank You, my God.”
When you feel rushed, whisper, “Slow my heart, Lord.”
When you feel distracted, whisper, “Draw me near.”

This practice forms your heart to recognize God’s nearness in real time, not just in a devotional moment, but in the everyday rhythms of your day. By the end of the hour, you will have practiced relating to Him personally, which strengthens the very closeness Paul modeled when he said, “my God.”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for drawing near to me and inviting me into a real and personal relationship with You. Help me to seek You with my whole heart and to live each day in steady dependence on Your grace and strength. Teach me to know You not only as my Creator and King, but as my Father, Helper, Sustainer, and Friend. Form within me a deeper desire to belong to You, so that I may confidently and joyfully say, “You are my God.” Amen.

Romans 1:9-10 (ESV)
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

Constant in Prayer

The common phrase offered after something horrific, whether a mass shooting, natural disaster, or untimely death, is the familiar “thoughts and prayers.” It echoes across social media and from the mouths of politicians and celebrities alike. But Paul didn’t wait for tragedy to move him to prayer, nor did he offer empty sentiment. His prayers for the Roman Christians, and for the many churches he planted during his missionary journeys, were steady, intentional, and sincere.

Even when Paul was hundreds of miles away, prayer bridged the gap between him and the believers he loved, both those he knew personally and those he longed to meet. He didn’t need to know every detail of their lives to intercede for them. When you read the prayers he recorded in his letters, they consistently focus on knowing God more deeply, being transformed inwardly, growing in love, walking in holiness, and enduring with hope, areas where every human being feels a deep need for God’s touch.

But why would Paul pray for these things “without ceasing” if God already wanted to do them? Because Paul understood something essential about prayer. When he prayed for believers to know God, grow in love, walk in holiness, and endure with hope, his requests didn’t inform God, they shaped Paul’s own heart to desire what God desires. Prayer doesn’t change God’s mind, prayer changes us to want God’s will. Knowing that God already intended to strengthen and sanctify His people didn’t lessen Paul’s prayers, it fueled them. Prayer is intimacy. It is joining hearts with God in what He loves most.

And the same invitation is open to us. When you step up to pray for someone else, you are doing more than offering a kind thought or polite sentiment. You are entering into God’s heart for that person. You are standing in the gap, asking God to accomplish the very things He delights to do, and letting Him shape your own heart in the process. Prayer becomes an act of love, an act of faith, and an act of partnership with God. As Paul prayed faithfully for others, so you are called to do the same, trusting that God will work in them and work in you as you pray.

Practice This:

Choose one person today - a family member, a friend, a coworker, or someone at church and pray one of Paul’s prayers over them. Do it slowly, thoughtfully, and personally. Insert their name into the passage as you pray.

For example:

“Lord, help [name] to know You more deeply…”
“Strengthen [name] with Your power…”
“Cause [name] to grow in love…”
“Fill [name] with hope through Your Spirit…”

Use one of these passages: Ephesians 1:15-23, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-12, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, or 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.

After you pray, take one small step to encourage them — a text, a call, or a simple “I prayed for you today.” This practice helps you step into the very heart of Paul’s ministry by joining God in what He already desires to do in someone’s life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, put someone on my heart today who needs to be lifted before You. Give me the desire and the courage to step into prayer the way Paul did, not with empty words but with sincere faith. Help me pray for their growth, their strength, their love, and their walk with You. Let my prayers reflect Your heart, and let them become a small part of the work You are doing in their life. Amen.

Romans 1:11-12 (ESV)
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

Mutually Encouraged

Comparison is one of the greatest thieves of joy for the believer. It shifts our attention away from loving others and quietly places it on ourselves, where pride begins to swell or discouragement starts to freeze the soul. In God’s kingdom, every person is loved, valued, and empowered by the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4). Paul, of all people, could have compared himself to new believers just beginning their journey with Christ and viewed them as spiritually inferior to him. Instead, he saw the Christians in Rome as brothers and sisters whose faith could strengthen his own, just as his teaching would strengthen theirs. This beautiful humility shows that true maturity celebrates the Spirit’s work in every believer, not just in oneself.

Paul’s hope to be “mutually encouraged” reveals several meaningful truths for us to consider. First, Paul was not approaching ministry as a one-directional service built on his knowledge or pastoral experience. His joy, comfort, and encouragement came from being present with the very people he prayed for continually and longed to visit. Second, Paul never specifies the form that encouragement might take. Whether through warm words, shared testimonies, hospitality, or simple fellowship, he leaves the door open. This openness suggests that Paul’s heart was ready to receive encouragement in whatever way the Spirit chose to give it. Lastly, imagine how this phrase would have sounded to the believers in Rome. Hearing that Paul desired to be strengthened by their faith could have stirred surprise, humility, or a deep sense of honor. The great apostle himself saw them not as spectators in his ministry, but as partners whose faith mattered and had a great impact. 

Is there someone in your life who has poured into you with love, wisdom, or steady encouragement? It may be a pastor, mentor, teacher, or parent. Take a moment to ask the Lord whom He would have you bless today, then offer them a simple word of gratitude. And if you serve in any form of leadership, consider slowing your pace long enough to open your heart to those around you. Allow yourself, like Paul, to be “mutually encouraged” by the people God has placed in your care. You may discover that the encouragement you give and the encouragement you receive are both gifts from the same Spirit.

Practice this:

Set aside a quiet moment today, even just a few minutes. Think of one person who has encouraged your faith or strengthened your walk with Christ. Then do two things.

First, speak a prayer of blessing over them out loud. It can be simple
“Lord, strengthen them today. Encourage their heart. Let them know they are loved by You.”

Second, if possible, send them a short voice message or make a brief phone call. Hearing your voice adds warmth and presence that written words alone cannot give. Let them know specifically how God has used them in your life.

If you’re a leader, do the same with someone you shepherd. Ask the Lord to show you who needs to be heard today, then give them space to share. Listen without rushing. Let their faith, their story, or even their honesty encourage you in return.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the people You place in our lives who strengthen our faith, speak truth to our hearts, and remind us of Your goodness. Open my eyes today to see those You have used to bless me, and give me the courage to speak encouragement back into their lives. Guard my heart from pride or comparison. Shape me into someone who both gives and receives grace with humility. And as Paul longed to be mutually encouraged by the believers in Rome, help me enter relationships with that same openness. Let my words, my presence, and my listening point others to You. Strengthen us together by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

Romans 1:13-14 (ESV)
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

In Debt

Have you ever found yourself in that awkward tug of war with someone, both of you insisting on doing the “right” thing? Maybe it happens when you argue over who will pay the bill, when you try to give up your seat to someone older, or when a man insists a woman take his chair. Situations like these are common, but they reveal something deeper. There is an internal sense of obligation that rises from our relationships, from social expectations, or simply from our own convictions about what is good and honorable.

Paul understood that same sense of obligation, but on a far greater and more urgent scale. The Greek word he uses means “to be in debt,” to owe something to someone else. Paul saw himself as indebted to every person God placed in his path, regardless of their background, their beliefs, or even their hostility toward him. Why? Because he knew the depth of grace he had received. As a man forgiven of the very worst of his sins, Paul felt a moral and spiritual responsibility to make known the same grace that had rescued him. For him, sharing the gospel wasn’t merely a good idea or a noble pursuit. It was a necessity, as essential and natural as breath filling the lungs.

Maybe you don’t feel indebted to people in the same way Paul did, but how does the reality of knowing you are saved, deeply loved, and given access to the Most High shape the way you move through your day? How does it influence your conversations, your interactions, even the way you drive? Maybe your excitement in following Jesus has faded, and you need to take time today to remember the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12). Or maybe your love for God feels stagnant, and your heart needs to return to your first love (Revelation 2:4).

Allow God’s goodness to create in you the same kind of indebtedness Paul felt, not toward God but toward the people around you, a grateful desire to share the grace and blessing you have received. Let today be the day you pause, remember what God has done for you, and allow that inward reality to overflow as you speak, respond, and bless the people God places in your path.

Practice this:

Identify one blessing God has given you, thank Him for it, and then tangibly bless someone else, like a meal, an encouragement, or an act of service.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the grace that keeps surprising me. Let the reality of what You have done in my life not sit quietly inside me today. Open my eyes to the people You place in my path, the ones who need encouragement, kindness, or a reminder that they are seen. Stir something in me that does not come from pressure but from gratitude. Help me speak with grace, respond with patience, and bless others the way You have blessed me. Lead me and let my life point someone toward You today. Amen.

Romans 1:15 (ESV)
So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Ready to Go

IOne of the most challenging parts of the Christian life is learning to submit to God’s timing. Waiting stretches us in places we would rather feel secure and settled. It is hard for the high school student who wants to take the next step and longs for God to open the right doors. It is hard for the single person who desires marriage and wonders when God will bring the right spouse. It is hard for the parent who has prayed again and again for a wayward child, aching for the moment God finally breaks through. Even when believers feel ready, eager, and full of passion for what they hope will come next, God often invites them to trust Him, slow down, and wait with patience.

From the time Paul penned this letter, it would be nearly four years before he finally set foot in Rome. He may have felt eager and ready to be with the believers there, but God had a very different path in mind. In that waiting, God used Paul powerfully. Through false accusations and imprisonment, Paul bore witness to Roman officials, military commanders, and even royalty. On the journey itself, he encouraged fellow prisoners and shared Christ with the people of Malta after surviving a shipwreck. What felt like a delay was a divine purpose. Though Paul desired to arrive in Rome much earlier, he rested in God’s timing, trusting that not a single step of the journey was without meaning.

This passage not only reveals what Paul may have been experiencing, but it also shows the heart of God. As Isaiah wrote, “God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than ours” (Isaiah 55:9). Be encouraged today that if you find yourself in a season of waiting, even when you feel ready and eager, you can trust God with every step of the journey. Just as God used Paul’s waiting to bless others and to shape his heart, God can use your waiting to form your desires, so they grow in step with His. Over time, the pause becomes the place where your longings are refined, aligned, and transformed. And in His perfect timing, He may lead you toward the good desires you have been holding, or He may gently reshape those desires, so they more fully reflect what He knows is best for you.

Practice This:

Take a few quiet moments today and write down what you are waiting for. Be honest about your hopes, desires, and frustrations…

Offer each one back to God in prayer, asking Him to help you trust His timing and shape your heart so that your desires rest securely in His hands.

Prayer:

God, You know how hard it is for me to wait. You know the places where I want to move ahead and the parts of my heart that feel tired from hoping. I don’t want to rush past what You’re doing in this season. Help me notice You here. Help me trust that You are working in ways I don’t yet understand. Shape my desires until they rest in You. Teach me to walk through this waiting with open hands, open eyes, and a steady confidence that Your timing is good, even when I cannot see it. Let this season draw me closer to You and make me ready for whatever You are preparing. Amen.