Too often we think there is meaning in tribulation when it is the devil trying to keep us from peace with God. Rebuke the devil and the tribulation. Don't let it defeat you. Pass through the door of tribulation stronger in faith giving the glory of victory to God.

The first few verses in Romans 5 explains how we can have peace with God.

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Therefore being justified by faith, we have access by faith into this grace.

2Therefore being justified by faith, we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

What gives us peace with God? What gives us access to grace? How is it that we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God? The answer to all three questions is that we are; put right or declared right with God. The words the scriptures use to describe this condition, is justification by faith. This blessed condition is called grace. It's a special kind of faith that gives us access to this condition; a special kind of faith that leads us to receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness;^vs17 a special kind of faith that causes us to believe that by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life; ^vs18 and a special kind of faith to believe that grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ^vs21 That is the heart of chapter five. Paul zooms in through the middle verses which I'll tackle later.

I understood the heart of the scripture when I put it in context of a prayer. Romans 5:1-11 is a prayer that rebukes the devil because the devil brings tribulation! We focus on the tribulation. We should focus on the victory. The process of tribulation has given us patience, experience, and hope. Some of us are ashamed of the tribulation. When you think back, you're not ashamed of the tribulation that you through patience have overcome. Why should you be? It is in overcoming the tribulation that you receive hope.

The Prayer: 'Father in Heaven: I thank thee that I am justified by faith and have peace with thee through Jesus Christ. I thank thee I have been given access by faith into this grace in which I now stand having passed through the door of grace with the key of faith. I have unlocked the door that has given me access to peace with thee and thy glory in which the love of God is poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit!

Other doors through which I have passed have given me patience, experience, peace and hope. I look back at the door of tribulation and laugh for I have the key of faith which brings peace and provides access to the love of God and I give glory to God for I am not ashamed.

In tribulation, I turn to thy peace and thy love shed abroad in my heart. For I am given of thy strength, for Christ died for me when I was without strength and 'God commended his love toward me while I was yet in sin'.

Now being justified through faith by the blood of Jesus Christ, I am saved by his life from the wrath of the devil. For while I was without strength and an enemy, I was reconciled to thee by the death of thy Son and now being reconciled I am saved by his life. I joy in thee through Jesus Christ by whom I now receive the atonement!

I rebuke the devil and his deeds and words; and laugh at the tribulation he thought would defeat me, for I have passed through that door and it has made me stronger in faith towards Jesus Christ. I also rebuke the words of those who have tried to put me in bondage. They shall have no power over me by their words.'

Use this prayer patterned after Romans 5: 1-11 to rebuke the devil and get peace with God. I feel the power of the words and the anointing of the spirit.