“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4).

The difficult part of the Christian life is entering seriously into the journey.  One sin, one piece of leaven, can leaven the whole thing.  How many fellowships fail because just a little bit of sin is tolerated.  It is not that we pretend we can be without sin; it is that we must call it out when we see it.  Calling it what it is, is the truth which brings freedom from it.  Stop pretending and start living the life of freedom to which we have been called.

Lord, You know what stands in the way.  You know where I have sin issues and do not call them out in myself.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will follow.  Show me Lord and then help me to confess my sins and repent.  Guide me Lord so that I may now and always abide in You, Your presence, Your purpose, and Your way.  Let me not pretend that I am anything other than a sinner saved by grace.

Holy Spirit, You search the depths of my heart and You know where I fall short.  Guide me,   Lord, so that I may walk in Your presence this day by faith.  Help me to be deliberate about the road I walk this day so that I may be guided by You into the life of Christ.  Let me not be hindered by those issues I have, but freely confess them, repent and live in the grace purchased by Christ.  Amen.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

A small child knows instinctively how to mimic their parent.  Many children play dress up, wearing adult clothing while pretending to be an adult.  It is a part of growing up.  Be an imitator of Christ.  No, this is not faking it.  It is taking on the role that is to be yours.  We are to mature in faith and be conformed to Christ – literally.  Therefore, be conformed to the image of Christ and become as the Lord is making you to be.

Lord, You know all that is needed.  I hesitate and fumble around.  Lead me into a deeper and stronger faith so that I would not live just a once-a-week faith, but daily grow more and more into the image of Christ my Savior.  Guide me, O Lord, to where I need to go this day so that I would not hold back; but become transformed into the life for which You gave up Your life so that I might live.

Lord Jesus, You are the example of the godly life.  More than that, You are the One to whom we are to be conformed.  Whatever it takes and however it is done, lead me to be conformed to You so that I may live into this new life that You have given through grace.  Let me learn how to give myself up so that You would be my all in all.  Help me each step of the way to become what You are making of me.  Amen.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31).

Lord, this is a strong list.  It is also a good list, but You know there are many places where, although I agree, I also fall short.  Help me amidst what I know to be right, to do what is right.  Continue to strengthen in me a willing heart that puts away those things which I ought not do so that I can continue along that path of becoming like Christ.  In You alone, Lord, is all hope.  Only in You can I do these things.

Lord, You know where I fall short.  You know where I need to grow and learn.  Continue to grow in me a heart that is like Yours.  Continue to teach me how to forgive as I have been forgiven.  In all things, lead me along the narrow path so that I would humbly follow where You lead.  Reshape who I am in order that I might become whom You are making me to be.  Lead me, O Lord, and give me the willingness to follow You alone.

Lord Jesus, You are the example of the godly life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go and help me go that way.  Through all that comes my way this day, help me see that in You alone is the ability to do good which You give me through grace.  Guide me, that in Your Holy Spirit, I would humbly walk with You this day and be shaped to be a little more in Your likeness.  Guide me, Lord, according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

You have been given the Spirit of God who is in you and leading you.  Do not grieve the One who is in you, for He is there to guide you in all holiness.  Do not again join your members with what is unholy but live into the truth of eternity.  Listen to the Holy Spirit and be guided in all of Your ways.  The One who has redeemed you has not left you as an orphan, but He has given you the ability to do all such good works as He has prepared for you to walk in.

Lord, help me to see clearly in order to do what is right.  You are always with me and you even know what I am thinking.  Guide me, Lord, in the right way that I would hold fast to the truth and not grieve You by behaving like the old Adam.  I know I need grace but let me not intentionally rely on grace by purposefully sinning.  Give me a heart that is sensitive and willing to always do what is right.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world so that I may have the abundant life that only comes through You.  That means that the old Adam must go and there can be no room for the wickedness that is in this world, to dwell in me.  Slay the old Adam so that I would be a suitable dwelling place for Your Holy Spirit.  Keep me close to You Lord so that I would continue on the right path.  Amen.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

You are being heard in more places than you think.  What comes out of your mouth?  Do you speak the good word of the Lord, or the language of this age?  Be aware of what you say and do.  Do not do this thinking it is what is needed in order to be saved, but do so because you love the Lord and do not want to give a wrong message that might cause others to stumble.  What person, who loves their beloved, does not want to shine the best light on the one they love?  Will you not do the same with your Lord and Savior?  Learn to love Him as He loves you.

Lord, You know my thoughts and words.  You know where I am so worldly that one could never tell that You are in me.  Cleanse my heart, mind, and mouth Lord so that I would speak of You as One whom I love.  You know what is needed and You know where I fall short.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may come to the place where I need to be.  In all things, let my eyes never be taken off  You.

Lord Jesus, You are the example of the godly life.  Guide me this day, O Lord, so that what comes across my lips in private as well as public is acceptable to You.  Let me bring You no shame, nor in any way defame You, but instead speak praises of You, my Savior.  Through all that comes to me this day, remind me of my need for You, Your grace, and the salvation You make possible by Your shed blood.  Amen.

“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need” (Ephesians 4:28).

Old habits, born of the old Adam and encouraged by the ways of this world, are to be broken through the grace of  Christ.  Do not think that you do not have habits that are not pitted against the Lord’s commandments.  You do.  Ask the Lord to admonish you where you need to be admonished.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.  Be freed from all that would bind you to this world and live in God’s grace.

Lord, create in me a clean heart.  Create in me a willingness to confess all that is in my heart.  Then give me the desire to always do what is right no matter the cost.  It is easier to justify sin than to confess, repent, and do things the way they need to be done.  It may be easier in this world, but ultimately, it is much easier to humbly come to You, ask forgiveness, and do things as You would have me do them.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set us free from sin, death, and the devil.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may humbly walk in the way of truth.  Guide me to confess all that I need to confess.  Guide me to work hard and diligently in order that I may become like You.  In all things, lead me where I need to be led.  Help me to see through the storm clouds of this age to become what You are making of me for eternity.  Amen.

“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

The Lord has given us the gift of emotions.  You feel what you feel.  Feel what you are feeling, only do not use this as an opportunity for sin.  Give the devil no excuse to tempt and do not give into the temptations of those who have no hope.  You have been redeemed and the price paid was the life of Christ.  Do not treat this with anything other than respect for the Lord and disdain for the devil.

Lord, guide me in how to go about feeling without sinning.  Lead me in the way of life so that I would humbly come into Your presence and feel the full range of my emotions and yet, not sin.  I need You to teach me how to do this.  You are the author and finisher of my faith.  Lead me in this way so that I would now and always be guided by You, my Savior, in how best to live this life which You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You displayed emotion and lived life in this age without sinning.  By Your example and in the grace You give, teach me how to live into a life that feels all the emotions You have created without giving into the tricks of the devil.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may follow You.  Teach me so that I may learn.  Guide me this day in the way You know I need to go.  Amen.

“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).

Be honest.  How difficult it is in all things to simply be truthful.  We each have shadows of things we hide, deflect, or keep from coming into the light.  How freeing it is when one simply tells the truth.  Be one of those and learn to be discreet, yet honest.  We each are connected, one to the other, so do no harm through what is false.  Instead, build up and be forthright in all things.

Lord, You are teaching each one of us the ways of heaven.  Help me live into the life for which I am being called.  There is a time and place for all things, but what is false and wrong must be replaced with what is true and right.  Guard my lips, mind, and thoughts so that I would learn how to speak and think what is right and true.  Lead me Lord in the way I need to go now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You are truth and You have spoken truth.  You have told us all things we need to know so that we might follow You in the way of true life.  Lead me this day, O Lord, that I would walk humbly with You, my Lord and Savior.  Guide me along the right path I need to walk and teach me what it means to be honest in all things.  In You, Lord, is the only hope any of us have.  Help me always live in You.  Amen.

“And put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:24).

We are created anew to live in the righteousness and holiness Christ gives in truth.  Christ is truth and in Him we have life.  Live this new life in Christ so that You may be made whole and become as He is.  Do not conform yourself to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ.  In Him is all life and in Him is the hope of the ages.  This is the promise: through Christ, you will live with Him forever.

Lord, help me live into the new life which is mine by grace.  Let me not live this life just for myself, for that is a lie and impossible.  Bring me beyond myself so that I would hold fast to the truth of the ages; in You Christ, is my hope and life.  Lord, You know all that is needed.  Guide me in the way I need to go and keep me from wavering.  In You is the hope and promise I need.  In You is life.

Lord Jesus, You know all that I need.  You know what is before me.  Guide me Lord and keep me on the path You know I need to follow.  In and through all things, keep me from wandering so that I may be diligent in the tasks You would have me accomplish.  Lord, You know all that is needed.  Let me trust in You alone and above all things.  In You alone is the hope for us all.  Amen.

“That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:22-23)

Listen carefully to this admonition, for it is a brief summation of walking the Christian life in this age.  You lay aside the old self so that you might be renewed in your mind.  This then, is the struggle that we find in ourselves: we want what the flesh wants and do not want to walk in the newness of life which denies the lusts of deceit.  Live in Christ and not in the fleeting desires of the flesh!

Lord, when I hear it this way, it is so simple.  I know the struggle, for I am in that struggle daily.  Guide me, O Lord, to see the deceit as it comes and help me to not give in.  Guide me to humbly walk with You, my Lord and God, and to live in newness of life.  Help me now and always to become what You would have me be and live the new life You have given me through grace.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set us free from the bondage of sin and death.  Daily I struggle not to earn life – for that is a gift You alone can give – but to keep it from being taken back down into the pit.  Let me see these things clearly so that I may walk in the newness of life which is mine through You.  Help me to humbly accept the path that is before me and walk as You would have me walk.  Amen.