Living On Purpose In Christ | Journaling Prompts, Biblical Encouragement, Aromatherapy, Devotions, Bible Study, God's Peace

100 | How to Ignite Your Faith: Unpacking Romans for Busy Christians

• Paula Behrens | Christian Coach, Pastor, Certified Aroma Freedom Practitioner • Season 2

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Wrestling with whether God can truly love you through your imperfections? The book of Romans offers profound answers that have transformed believers for centuries. This powerful New Testament letter isn't just theological doctrine—it's a lifeline for anyone caught between spiritual aspirations and human limitations.

Paul's masterpiece begins with a sobering reality check about our universal brokenness before revealing the revolutionary solution: justification by faith alone. Just as Abraham was credited as righteous simply for believing God's promises, we too are made right with God not through perfect performance but through trusting in Christ's completed work. This paradigm shift from religious striving to grace-filled surrender changes everything about how we approach our relationship with God.

What makes Romans especially relatable is Paul's raw honesty about his own spiritual struggles: "What I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Sound familiar? Yet this confession leads to the triumphant declaration that "there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus" and the assurance that absolutely nothing can separate us from God's love. From this foundation of security, Paul shows us how to walk this journey as "living sacrifices"—transformed by renewed thinking and expressing Christ's character through genuine community.

If you're tired of exhausting yourself with spiritual perfectionism or feeling like you're never quite measuring up, this episode offers the freedom you've been searching for. Subscribe now, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and join me next week as we continue discovering how to live on purpose in Christ. Ready to experience a personal reset in your spiritual journey? Visit PaulaBehrens.com/coaching to book your Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour today.

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Paula Behrens:

Do you ever lie awake at night wondering if you're really following what God wants for you? Do you ever find yourself pouring your heart into pleasing Him, yet in the midst of your everyday imperfections, you wonder if God can truly love and work through you as you grow in your faith journey? The book of Romans offers powerful answers to these and other worries. This book is not just a letter from the Apostle Paul, it's a profound narrative of God's love lifting us from brokenness to glory. Today we'll explore this amazing New Testament book of grace.

Paula Behrens:

But first funny story. When I first began my seminary work while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized. But truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos there was a lesson. Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness, I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices.

Paula Behrens:

Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God, but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you. Please take a moment to follow the show, leave a review and share with your friends who need a little biblical encouragement today.

Paula Behrens:

Hey friend, I know how exhausting it can be to chase after a devotional routine that's just not working for you, constantly restarting with good intentions while fighting through distractions that keep pulling you away from God. I've walked that path myself, that cycle of trying my best but falling short. That's why I designed the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour, where we focus on creating a Peace RESET to bring emotional alignment and clarity into your spiritual life. Imagine stepping into a rhythm that truly refreshes your soul, anchoring you in God's refreshing presence for that lasting sense of calm you've been craving. Small steps add up, sister, and this is your invitation to make it doable today. Let's turn your quiet time into a source of thriving faith. Save your seat now for an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour plus Peace RESET at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). It's time to start breathing peace into your walk with Jesus. All right, let's get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Paula Behrens:

Imagine first century Rome, a vibrant city buzzing with energy, as soldiers march on marble streets and merchants trade in bustling markets. The aroma of frankincense floats through the temple air during worship, while in hidden homes believers gather to share bread, sing hymns and study sacred scrolls. This diverse group includes Jews rooted in ancient scriptures and Gentiles newly captivated by Jesus' message. They strive for unity, faithful endurance under Caesar's rule and deeper insight into the gospel. Paul, though never having met many of them, holds them dear and writes his letter to the Romans to inspire, teach and strengthen their walk with Christ. He opens with a bold declaration, a kind of thesis statement for the whole book, saying, I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. You can almost feel the urgency in his words, as though he can hardly contain the glory of what he's about to unfold.

Paula Behrens:

He begins by laying bare the universal human condition. Now, whether you're a pagan worshiping carved idols or a moral person who prides yourself on doing right, Paul says you stand guilty before a Holy God. He describes the downward spiral of humanity, how people exchange the truth of God for a lie, worship created things instead of the Creator and plunge deeper into sin. It's not a comfortable picture. It's raw, unsettling and painfully honest. And maybe that's why it hits so hard, because somewhere deep down we recognize ourselves in it. We've all turned away. We've all tried to be our own gods. As Paul's words build like a courtroom case, you can almost hear the gavel drop in chapter 3. There is no one righteous, not even one. The whole world is held accountable to God. It's as if he pulls the mask off our self-righteousness and says see, you can't fix yourself.

Paula Behrens:

When guilt feels overwhelming Paul's tone changes like sunlight breaking through clouds, as he states, but now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known. The righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. This pivotal moment of the gospel reveals that we are made right with God, not by our efforts or rule keeping, but by trusting in Jesus' completed work on the cross. This is the essence of justification by faith and the message of Romans. Paul emphasizes that this idea isn't new by pointing to Abraham's story. Abraham was declared righteous not by following the law, which well, didn't exist then, but because he believed God's promise. Paul stresses it was credited to him as righteousness and extends it to us saying, these words were also for us. Picture Abraham, childless and old, looking at the stars and trusting God's promise of numerous descendants. It's this faith, not perfect actions, that God values, simply taking him at his word.

Paula Behrens:

Paul beautifully illustrates the life transformed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is not just dry doctrine. It is vibrant, heart-renewing reality. He says, therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Can you sense the release in those words? No more fleeing in guilt, no more striving for acceptance. We stand in grace, rejoicing in the hope of God's glory. This is not abstract theology. It is God embracing his children, whispering: You are renewed, you are beloved, you dwell securely with me.

Paula Behrens:

Paul's storytelling takes a cosmic turn as he compares Adam and Jesus. Through one man's disobedience, sin entered the world and death through sin spreading to all people like a deadly infection, but through one man's obedience, Jesus, grace overflowed to many. Picture a river overflowing its banks, rushing through every dry place. That is what God's grace does. It doesn't just patch up the damage of sin, it floods over it, washes it clean and leaves new life in its wake. Because of this, Paul says we are no longer slaves to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. We have died with Christ and been raised with him. Can you hear the freedom in that? The chains are broken, the prison door is flung wide open. You don't have to keep living like a prisoner when God has declared you free. Yet Paul is not naive about the ongoing struggle with sin.

Paula Behrens:

Romans 7 stands as one of the most brutally honest chapters in all of Scripture. Paul admits I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Have you ever felt like this, determined to pursue righteousness, yet stumbling over the same temptations, weaknesses and old habits? Paul's words resonate profoundly, reflecting our own internal battles.

Paula Behrens:

But despair doesn't have the last word. Paul cries out who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Then an even more powerful truth emerges. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, not for yesterday's mistakes or this morning's missteps. The indwelling Holy Spirit begins the cleansing process, moving us into the likeness of Christ, changing our heart's desires, setting us free from the law of sin and death. This revelation marks the shift from struggle to triumph, where the sanctifying work of the Spirit leads us into victorious living.

Paula Behrens:

Romans 8 is like standing on a mountaintop with the wind of God's Spirit rushing around you. Paul says, the Spirit testifies that we are God's children, and if children, then heirs, co-heirs with Christ. He speaks of creation itself groaning as it waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. He assures us that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. And then, in one of the most soaring crescendos of Scripture he asks, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword? No, for I am convinced, Paul writes, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Let that settle into your soul. Nothing can separate you from his love, nothing.

Paula Behrens:

At this point in the letter, Paul pauses to address the mystery of God's plan for Israel in chapters 9 through 11. His tone becomes tender and sorrowful. He says he would be willing to be cut off from Christ if it could mean salvation for his fellow Israelites. He wrestles aloud with how so many of God's chosen people rejected the Messiah. Yet God's promises have not failed. There is a remnant chosen by grace, and the Gentiles have been grafted into the olive tree of God's people. It's a reminder that God's ways are higher than ours. Where we see pieces, he sees the whole tapestry. And when Paul contemplates this vast plan, he breaks into praise saying, Oh the depth of the riches, of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out. It's as if words fail him and all he can do is worship. Then comes the turning point from theology to practice, from what God has done to how we now live.

Paula Behrens:

Romans 12 begins with a passionate plea. Paul writes, Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. This is where the gospel becomes daily, tangible and earthly. It is not just about believing the right things, but becoming the kind of people who reflect Jesus in everything we do. Paul describes a community marked by sincere love, humility, generosity and forgiveness. He says, bless those who persecute you. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Can you imagine how different the world would be if we lived like this? What would it look like for you personally to live as a living sacrifice today?

Paula Behrens:

Paul goes on to show how this transformed life plays out in society. In chapter 13, he says to submit to governing authorities, not because they are perfect, but because God is sovereign. He urges believers to fulfill the law through love, reminding them that love does no harm to a neighbor. He says the hour has come to wake from sleep, to put aside deeds of darkness and to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. There's a sense of holy urgency here. Life is short. Eternity is near. It's time to live fully awake.

Paula Behrens:

Chapters 14 and 15 deal tenderly with the tensions between strong and weak believers. Some eat anything, others only vegetables. Some observe special days, others treat every day alike. Paul says in essence stop judging one another on disputable matters. Each of you stands or falls before your own master. Instead of tearing each other down, we are called to build each other up, the stronger to bear with the failings of the weak, just as Christ bore our weaknesses. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, Paul prays, so that with one mind and one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. What would it look like to bring that spirit of unity into your own relationships, your family, your church, your friendships?

Paula Behrens:

As Paul closes his letter, he names person after person, greeting them like beloved family, Phoebe, a deacon, who likely carried the very letter to Rome, Priscilla and Aquila, who risked their lives for him, Andronicus and Junia, outstanding among the apostles, and many, many more. It's a beautiful reminder that the gospel is not just a set of doctrines. It is lived out in real relationships, among real people who love and serve one another.

Paula Behrens:

Paul warns them to watch out for those who cause division and to stay rooted in the truth. And then he ends with a doxology so full of wonder it almost sings, To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ, amen. This, my friend, is the book of Romans. It takes us by the hand and walks us from guilt to grace, from slavery to freedom, from striving to surrender. It shows us that salvation is not about what we can achieve, but about what Jesus has already done. It invites us to live not in fear but in faith, not in condemnation but in confidence, not in isolation but in love. It is the power of God for salvation and for transformation to everyone who believes.

Paula Behrens:

I want to pause and speak directly to your heart. Maybe, as you've been listening, something deep inside you is stirring. Maybe you've realized that, while you know about God's grace, you don't always live like it's really yours. Maybe you're weary from striving or stuck in old patterns that keep pulling you away from the freedom Jesus offers. Friend, you don't have to stay there.

Paula Behrens:

One way I help women step into this freedom is through what I call the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour plus Peace Reset. In this gentle yet powerful hour together we'll use the Aroma Freedom Technique, along with essential oils, to release emotional blocks, reset your heart in God's peace and create a devotional rhythm that fits into your real life. It's a sacred space to breathe again, reconnect with God and step forward in His grace. If your heart is longing for that kind of reset, I invite you to book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour today at PaulaBehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). Let's walk this sacred journey together, surrounded by truth, purpose and the sweet aroma of his presence.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more women like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into him and walking in his wisdom. See you next time.