"Who Will Deliver Me?" a study with the book of Romans Romans 8: 31-39 The Apostle's lament in ch.

7, about being out of control leads to the wonderful revelation that, while we feel overwhelmed, we need not be. Based on all that God has been, is, and will be doing in the lives of those who are in Christ, everything else falls into place (vv. 31-34). God does not condemn us. There is a provocative mention of the attempts by others and other beings to condemn us - but it will not prevail. In fact, Jesus, who continues to intercede for us (see v. 27). In the light of all this, no circumstance and no one external to us can pry us apart from our ongoing relationship of love with God (vv. 35-39). These cherished poetic verses are often used at funerals and in times of persecution to offer hope to those who are in Christ. Pauls extended list of things that threaten to get between us and God has the primary function of engulng the hearers with Gods strength and so encouraging faith and hope. The three opposites (death/life, things present/things to come, height/depth) are literary devices. Verse 38 mentions angels, rulers and powers; whatever all they are, not even they can separate us from God. Creation is Gods creation; so God is in charge, no matter how strongly certain elements of the created world seem out of whack or in opposition to Christ and Christs people. We, with Christ, are overwhelmingly winning the victory (present tense emphatic verb in v. 37) over all circumstances and beings which attempt to pull us apart from God. Because of Jesus Christ, nothing can come between Gods love for us and our love for God. Note: Romans 8: 36 refers to Psalm 44: 22

Romans 8: 31-39 31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us allhow will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WEEK 2 Willpower challenge 1: 1. Your blood sugar and your level of rest will inuence every aspect of your will. Even if your challenge is not food related - nd a snack to lift your blood sugar level prior to facing your own will power "demons" meaning the thing you would like to control. (If you are a diabetic or have a medical condition - consult your physician to nd out how you can better even out your blood sugar levels.) 2. Then place one small temptation in a place you can't miss it - and challenge yourself to avoid it. For example, place a candy jar where you have to see it regularly, and then resist the candy. You can eat candy anywhere else, but don't get it from the jar and don't eat candy for at least 5 minutes after you see the jar.

Willpower challenge 2: This is a 3 part challenge - one for each aspect of will power. 1. Change the way you do one small thing - something that you don't want to change long term. For example, don't cross your legs, or don't tap your ngers, or do use your non dominant hand to brush your teeth and open doors. (If you are left handed use your right hand or if you are right handed use your left hand.) 2. Do one thing you want to change, but limit the time. Exercise for ve minutes and ve minutes only each day. Or throw out something you don't need - but only one small item. Don't start a large project. 3. Write down one thing you do - actually keep track of anything, like watching tv or how often you get online to play games, etc. Don't change it - just formally track it.

Willpower Notes: People who use their willpower run out of it. Smokers who go without a cigarette are more likely to binge on ice cream. Drinkers who resist a cocktail become physically weaker. Most disturbingly, people who are on a diet are more likely to cheat on their spouse. Theres only so much willpower to go around. Once exhausted, you are left defenseless against temptation. Every act of willpower was drawing from the same source of strength, leaving people weaker with each successful act of self-control. Mental or emotional activity drains you physically! If you dont rest the muscle, you can run out of strength - every act of willpower depletes willpower, using control can lead to losing control. Additionally, modern life is full of demands that drain your will. And if you try to control or change too many things at once, you'll exhaust yourself. This failure says nothing about your virtue (as the book of Romans reminds us) just about the nature of stressed humans. What factors inuence our ability to build our willpower? * Blood sugar levels is primary. * Rest and recharging (a Sabbath time). * "Tricking" our brain - build willpower on something less challenging. Understand that we all act on self interest. The biggest challenge is to tap into that "want" power. Write a list to quickly remind yourself what the pay off is for you to control your behavior. Write in the briefest sentences or words possible. State how it will benet you and imagine how you will feel about it. Note how it might benet others around you. State that your will power will get stronger in time. Our challenge is to train like an athlete, push our limits but pace ourselves. We can nd strength in our motivation when we feel weak, we can also look for ways to help our tired selves make good choices.

EL SHADDAI by Amy Grant (all rights reserved) El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonai, Age to age You're still the same, By the power of the name. El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkahmka na Adonai, We will praise and lift You high, El Shaddai. Through your love and through the ram, You saved the son of Abraham; Through the power of your hand, Turned the sea into dry land. To the outcast on her knees, You were the God who really sees, And by Your might, You set Your children free. El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonai, Age to age You're still the same, By the power of the name. El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkahmka na Adonai, We will praise and lift You high, El Shaddai.

El-Elyon na Adonai [means "God in the highest, Oh, Lord"] Erkamka na Adonai [means "We will love You, Oh, Lord"]

Who Will Deliver Me? Will Power, Wont Power, Want Power

July 12:

I will! I won't! I want! Were you born to resist cheesecake? Too Tired? Why our will is like a muscle. Goody! Why being "good" can make us bad. Your Brain Can Lie? Why we mistake want for happiness. I Don't Care! How feeling down leads to giving up. Selling the Future Instant gratication - Now! Infected? Why willpower is contagious. The End of Our Rope! The limits of resistance and beyond.

July 19:

July 26:

August 2:

August 9:

August 16:

August 23:

August 30: