Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (KJV).
To be persuaded means to "move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).
Are we persuaded - fully confident - in the Lord's love toward us? Are we convinced He will fulfill His promises in our lives?
Intercession is where we find the strength (or lack of) persuasion in God's sovereign power to act. Do we believe God can change our home, heal relationships, answer requests for a better paying job or provide clear direction? Prayer is not in the number of words we speak (Luke 18:13) or how long we pray. True pray is rooted in the substance of faith to trust Him (Hebrews 11:1).
Such faith Abraham possessed to get up from where he lived and how he lived to go to a far country. He was not sure where he was actually going but was persuaded by His voice to leave everything behind. Hebrews 11:10 says, "Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (NLT).
Abraham took God at His word because he understood the nature of God. A God who does not lie and who does not change but is faithful.
And that is why our persuasion must flow from our knowledge in the character of God rather than some emotional or circumstantial experience. Our emotions will betray us. Circumstances are temporal and fickle. Sadly, we are more convinced about our failures which appear to dominate and control our lives.
If we are persuaded nothing...absolutely nothing...can separate us from His love than we can pray boldly and with confidence. Even if our heart condemns us God is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20).
Beloved, we can't coach ourselves to be persuaded in His ability to act because this requires the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches and leads us into all truth. Truth that persuades us God loves me no matter what so I can pray with reckless faith to believe Him.
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