“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:14-15)

It is not a matter of going out to the world on your own and figuring it out.  Too many think themselves a superhero and then go down in flames when adversity comes.  You have been given instructions to be prepared and do the work needed to be ready in the day of conflict.  Put on what the Lord gives so that when you are confronted with whatever may come, you will not fold.

Lord, it seems as though so many are unprepared for the fight in this age against principalities and forces.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may be armored and ready to fight against the forces of darkness that are all around me.  Teach me the truth so that I may not fall for what is false.   Grant me righteousness in order that I would not practice the hedonism of this age. Send me where I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You have given us all we need to live in this age which continues its rebellion in sin which leads to death.  Help me, O Lord, to see that in You is hope and the only future we could want.  Guide me and shield me for what has been prepared by You will enable me to fight the good fight and finish the race You have set before me.  Lead me now and always in the true way of faith so that I would indeed go into the next life as one of Your righteous ones.  Amen.

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).

Do not walk as one with no protection.  The devil seeks whom he may devour.  Be led by the Lord and not by the world.  The world is being led toward destruction by the wicked one.  Come then and live in the light of the Lord and know that in Him is all hope and the only future worth living.  Resist evil and evil will flee.  Receive the light and it will fill you.  In everything good, stand firm.

Lord, help me to understand these simple truths and to live them today and every day.  Guide me to see the schemes of the wicked one and to resist them.  Teach me to stand firm in the hope You have given me so that I may live my life for which You died.  You know the way I need to go and You know where I need to stand firm.  In You, grant that I would have understanding to do what is needed.

Thank You Lord Jesus for the goodness You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of eternal life so that I may now and always abide in You and You in me.  Keep me close to You,  Lord, in order that I may not stray, nor be struck down by the wickedness all around me.  In all things, help me to always cling to You and the grace You have given me so that I may stand firm in the faith.  Amen. 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

You may run into people who really irritate you today, but your problem is not with them.  We are in the midst of a great battle and this world is bent toward destruction.  Do not focus upon the one who seeks your destruction, but upon the One who gives and sustains life.  Flee wickedness and come into the presence of the Lord.  Know that in Him is all hope and an eternal future.

Lord, You know the state of the world and all of the difficulties that come about because of sin in the world.  You have already overcome the world.  Help me to see that the battle I experience each day is cosmic and has been going on since the fall in the garden.  Lead me to look to You and know that in You is all hope.  Help me to stand firm and live into the life to which You are calling me.

Thank You Lord Jesus for the goodness You have given me in faith.  Lead me this day to see through the wiles of the wicked one and not to return hatred with hatred.  Lead me to live according to Your never-failing principles and the truth You have revealed from the cross.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth and help me to stand firm by living the truth each day You give me.  Amen.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

Be strong.  Not on your own, but in the Lord, be strong.  You can do nothing apart from Him and with Him all things are possible. Therefore, live in the Lord’s strength and know that in Him alone is all hope.  Stand firm knowing that our adversary roams around seeking whom He may devour.  If you are in the Lord, you know He is with you.  So, stand firm in Him and hold fast to the truth.

Lord, it is a wicked world and the wicked one seeks to devour all who come close to You.  Guide me to stand close to You always so that I may not fall prey to the devil’s schemes but live in Your love instead.  Guide me to look to You for all things and to do what You give me to do.  Help me now and always to know that Your strength is my strength and the hope of the Gospel is my hope.

Jesus, because You live, I too live.  You have come to set me free from sin, death, and the devil.  Help me now and always to know that in You is all hope.  Help me to live in Your strength knowing that in You is all strength.  Help me to live in faith knowing that You are the way, truth, and life.  Lead me now and always, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go.  Teach me to stand firm in You.  Amen.

“And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Ephesians 9).

Think about how much coercion is used in our world, that and intimidation.  It does no good.  Win another over, be it one above or below your position, through love.  Do not lord it over others; but serve as our Lord has served us.  We are not to show partiality, nor use force, but to love as we would need to be loved if it were us in the position of the other who is our neighbor.

Lord, You have brought me thus far to where I am, yet I know there is much more distance that needs to be covered.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth so that I would hold fast to what You are telling me and apply this to the core of my being.  Help me learn to serve others no matter who they are as I would want to be served if it were me in their place.  Guide me this day, Lord, in the way I need to go.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your help and guidance.  Through You alone am I able to do anything.  Only in You can I learn to love as You love.  Lead me this day to do what needs to be done and to be guided by Your principles.  Help me overcome the wiles of the wicked one and love as You love.  Help me today to put into practice what You have taught me that I may love all You bring my way.  Amen.

“With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free” (Ephesians 6:7-8).

We often become those who are more interested in what others think that in what the Lord thinks.  Do not seek to please men, as if such a thing were possible.  Instead, serve the Lord.  When serving another, do so in the Lord’s name.  Be guided by the Lord and His goodness and know that in all things, He alone is the One you serve.  Do not be led astray by your feelings; but live in His presence always.

Lord, let me see the simplicity of this so that I would not be led astray by the ways of the world.  You have created me to walk in Your presence.  I walk with You, for You, and in You always.  Let me not go to any other place, but instead, live into this life You have given me in grace.  In You Lord is all hope and the eternal promised future.  Keep me on Your narrow path now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You were always pointing to the Father and teaching us to do the same.  The world presses in and it wants what it wants.  But the world does not know what it wants.  Keep my eye on the prize so that I would be led by You alone and walk where You lead me, doing what You give me to do.  In You Lord is all hope.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would walk with You and serve You.  Amen.

“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5-6).

Being dutiful is often difficult.  We are not just to give the appearance of doing what needs to be done, but we are to be engaged in what we are doing.  When you work at another place, or volunteer, do not just go through the motions, but be there.  This is the precept, that in whatever you are called to do, do so as one who is serving the Lord.  Do all you do from your heart and the Lord will add yet more.

Lord, this is often a difficult thing to do.  I do not feel like being where I am sometimes.  Sometimes the people I am with are difficult to be around.  Help me move beyond my feelings to do what You would have me do.  Help me to have a right attitude in all things so that I may realize that whatever I do, I do as one who serves You.  Let me never roll my eyes, but roll up my sleeves and go to work for You.

Lord Jesus, while we were yet sinners, You died for us.  You have led the way in doing what needs to be done.  Guide me Lord in order that I would walk the same path and do what needs to be done.  Help me to overcome my feelings in order to do what You give me to do.  Then, help me do whatever it may be knowing that all things work together for good because of the Father’s love.  Amen

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

There is no instruction book in raising children, but the wisdom of the Lord is available to all.  How many of our children are provoked by having been ignored, or raised by others.  The point is to be intentional about investing in the lives of others.  Start with your children.  Be an adult and learn both authority and responsibility.  Do what needs to be done for the sake of the other.

Lord, this is an age of great immaturity.  Help me to learn what it means to be responsible and mature.  Guide me in the way of the life You have given me by grace so that I would be as a father or mother to those who need to be nurtured.  Lead me in what is right and fitting in every circumstance to hold fast to the faith You have given me in order that I may knowingly share it with others.

Lord Jesus, though You were younger than many of Your disciples in earthly years, yet You were as a Father to them, leading them in the direction they needed to go.  Through me, Lord, help me to lead others that in this too, I may put on Your image.  Guide me in all things so that I would now and forever continuously grow in wisdom.  Teach me Your admonition and then lead me to live it.  Amen.

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

God did not make the ten suggestions but the Ten Commandments.  Jesus died for our sin, not to do away with the law.  It is about fulfilling the law.  Yes, we are in grace, but this does not release us from seeking to fulfill the law.  Come then and learn what this means.  Learn how to be obedient to the Lord in and through all things.  Be guided by His goodness and mercy.  Know that in the Lord you learn how to live life.

Lord, I follow this world sometimes and do not follow through with what You are teaching me.  This is not a matter of taking certain steps, but about learning characteristics that are those of Jesus.  Teach me how to be obedient in all things Lord so that I may be conformed to the image of Christ.  Guide me to see that in You alone is the only hope to be able to move forward in this life.

Lord Jesus, You have come both to give the grace we need and provide the model of the godly life.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be guided in Your grace and mercy to become obedient.  Teach me what this means and then enable me to do this without overlooking it.  In and through all things, continue to conform me to Your image so that I may become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen. 

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).

We are saved by grace apart from works of the law, but we have not been freed from the law.  That is, God’s order that He has intended from the beginning still remains.  We need grace when we break the law, but the law is still in effect.  This is pretty simple.  Obey your parents.  Look at what the world does and see how things are twisted.  Then, apply what Jesus said and learn to obey.

Lord, this is simple and whether it is my parents of the flesh, those who mentor me, or even those who lead me, help me learn how to honor those whom You have appointed in these positions.  You have told us that we are to be as children.  Not childish, but as children.  Help me to learn all that this means so that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Teach me what it means to obey.

Lord Jesus, You were obedient even unto unto death on the cross.  You have said that we each are to take up our cross and follow You.  Help me Lord to learn all that this means and apply it to my life.  You demonstrated obedience to the Father in all things and here I hear that I am to be obedient to my parents.  Lead me to understand what this means and then teach me to be faithful.  Amen.