“For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16)

We all need encouragement.  Listen to the Word and be uplifted up in the truth of grace which has been purchased for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Give thanks for those who are faithful and have shared the Word with You.  Pray, so that others might receive what You have been given.  In and through all things, look to the Lord who provides in abundance for all our needs.

Lord, each day You provide for all of those who have need.  Guide me this day, O Lord, so that I would walk humbly with You, both giving thanks and praying for others as I have been prayed for.  Teach me to be like You, Jesus.  Help me in my journey of being conformed to Your likeness so that I would grow each day in the grace and mercy which uplifts all who believe and be prepared for all that is to come.

Lord Jesus, You have prepared the way for all of those who believe.  You prayed for the disciples and even for me in the garden.  You went to the cross so that all of those who follow You would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have prepared so that I may walk with You leading me this day, and humbly submit to Your guidance and authority.  Lead me, O Lord.  Amen.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Gospel rightly preached.  The Gospel of grace tells us that we cannot do it on our own, but that we are to trust the Lord in and through all things.  We are to trust that He has accomplished our salvation.  Many still try to do it on their own, but we know we have a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  Come then into the truth of the Savior and live in the hope we all have, knowing that by His blood we are healed.

Lord, let me not become mixed up about what I believe, or how I live this life You have given me.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see through all the difficulties this world places before me to live the simple Gospel of grace.  You have given Your Holy Spirit so that I may, moment by moment, know which way to step and the direction to move.  Help me learn to listen to the Word of truth knowing that in You I can trust in Your salvation.

Lord Jesus, You have sent Your Holy Spirit so that all who believe might walk in newness of life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have established so that I would not chase after the world, but walk according to Your Spirit.  Lead me this day to know what is right and what is wrong and to do those right things You give me to do.  Lead me and I will follow.  Speak to me and I will listen.  Amen.

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12).

There are a couple of ideas here which the devil uses to divide Christians: inheritance and predestination.  These things point to what God is doing.  Never forget that God gets all of the verbs.  Is not an inheritance what you anticipate receiving after someone dies?  Does not predestination simply speak of what is already known?  Yes, Jesus died, and we inherit His life.  This was the plan God established in the beginning and so it was predestined to be as God willed.  He who knows all has done this.

Lord, let me not be taken captive by theologies that titillate and instead help me to stand on the firm ground of Your revelation of grace and mercy.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know what You intend for me and lead me according to Your will to fulfill what You know needs to happen in my life.  Let my hope always be in You, the truth You have revealed, and the grace which is mine through the cross.

Lord Jesus, You have paid the price for my redemption.  You have set the course for my life according to what was planned from the beginning.  In You alone is hope and an eternal future.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your purpose so that I may walk by Your grace, live in the faith You have given, and love as You teach me to love.  May all I do be a reflection of Your love in me.  Amen.

“In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10).

Every word of Scripture is important, but sometimes there are too many words for us and we become confused.  The problem is ours and it is not with the word.  But perhaps this will help:  God is up to something bigger than we now realize; He has opened your eyes and He has asked you to join Him.  That’s it.  Will you join Him, trust that all that needs to be done has been done so that You may join and always be with Him?

Lord, help my unbelief and guide me in the way of a life of faith.  Take away the hindrances that get in the way and shut down the voice of this world so that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy alone.  Lead me Lord in all of Your ways so that I may be guided now and forever in truth.  Your Word is truth and You are truth.  In that mystery, lead me today and every day You give me in this age.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh who has come among us, be my rock and fortress.  Guide me in the way of truth so that I may see more clearly each day all of the good things You have done.  Help me now and always to see through this age’s wickedness and cling to You, my Redeemer and Rock.  Help me to humbly live and willingly serve in the will of the Father, doing that which is pleasing in His sight.  Amen.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7-8).

Through His blood, that is, at a price we cannot pay, Christ redeems us.  Jesus paid the price so that we would be redeemed.  For the forgiveness of our trespass, that is, for going where we should not be, He takes on Himself the penalty.  What is presented is simple, but how we react is often so complex.  Yet, it remains simple.  By His blood you have been redeemed and He holds out His hand so that you would take it and follow Him all of your days.

Lord, this world plays games and does not abide in the simple truth that You have redeemed us.  You and You alone are the Redeemer.  Lead me in the way of truth so that I would humbly walk with You always and be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Let me not listen to this world’s lies but be transformed by You who has redeemed me at great price from the iniquity that this world preaches and lives.

Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done.  I really do not know, nor do I understand but a small portion of this.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth so that I may live into this life of faith You have given me.  Teach me to trust You above all things, learning to love as I have been loved and to share with others as You have shared with me.  You are the One Who redeems and You alone are the One who saves!  Amen.

“In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

In the Gospel of John, we are told that the power to become children of God is given to those who see the light shining in the darkness.  Here, it is said that He who knows us destined that we would be conformed to the image of Christ.  Walk then as one who has been given the greatest of all gifts and learn to love as He loves.  Walk in the way of the Lord and live into the purpose for which You have been created.

Lord, there are many things I do not know.  You are always present and You, who knows all things, have called all who have faith to be conformed to Your image.  Lead me this day in the way of faith so that I would humbly walk according to Your instruction and in the Father’s will.  You have freely bestowed upon me the gifts of grace.  Help me learn to bestow these gifts upon others.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope and an eternal future.  You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Help me to live this life which You offer.  By Your grace, You have given me the power to become like You.  Help me become what You know I will be and lead me so that I may make my life’s focus that which is good, eternal, and pleasing to the Father.  Amen.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:3-4).

There are some things you should not try to figure out.  You have been chosen by God.  He who knew you before the foundation of the world determined that you would be conformed to the image of Christ.  Do not spend your time pondering why, but spend your time and energy being conformed according to the purpose of the Father.  He Who knows all things, has already put before you all that is needed for your faith to flourish.

Lord, help me focus upon those things which are of benefit in my faith.  Guide me to spend my time and energy where You would have me spend them.  Guide me in all things so that I would not try so much to understand all things as to understand that You who are the Maker of all things.  Lead me along the right paths for Your sake and keep me close to You on the narrow path of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You have come and accomplished all that needs to be done in order that we who have faith might flourish in the truth You have revealed.  Lead me this day Lord so that I may focus upon those tasks You have given me to do and walk according to Your never-changing word.  Help me see through the confusion of this age and learn how to be obedient in and through all things.  Amen.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

To all who are faithful, he says: only the Lord knows who the faithful are.  If you understand that, then treat those you believe to be faithful in this manner: be gracious to all others as the Lord has been gracious to you.  Live in the grace you have been given and, as far as you are concerned, live in peace with others.  We each have been called by the Lord and we have been given tasks by the Holy Spirit so that we may live this life of faith in fellowship.

Lord, these are simple words and I have heard them many times.  I often think of them as just a greeting.  Help me to learn to receive them as a blessing and take them into my heart.  Teach me how to be blessed and to bless others.  Guide me to a fuller understanding of living this life of faith which You have given me.  Teach me how to live all my days faithfully, in peace, and loving my neighbor.

Lord Jesus, You who were always faithful, through whom we have received grace and mercy, and by whom are all things held together, guide me in the way of faith this day so that I may be blessed and be a blessing to others.  Help me rest in Your peace, share Your peace, and be at peace with those around me.  By Your grace, help me today to be Your witness and share the truth of faith in my life with others.  Amen.

“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen” (Galatians 6:17-18).

Will you believe the faithful report you have received from the saints?  Will you believe in the faith you have been given?  Let no one mess with the truth which has been delivered once and for all.  They will try; but see it for what it is.  Holy Scriptures are not cleverly devised fables that we have been given, but the truth of God.  Rest in the peace He gives and know that in and through the One who created all life comes the blessing of salvation.

Lord, You have revealed all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life so that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Lead me to know and trust Your faithful saints who are trustworthy, and to reject the lies of the devil however and through whomever they may come.  Teach me to rest in the peace of salvation given and to live each day following You in all of Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me today, Lord, so that I would look to You for all things.  Guide me by the Word You have already given and grant me strength to reject all of the lies that surround me.  With Your guidance, I can do all things, for You have given me the words of eternal life and the will to follow You.  Lead me into Your peace always.  Amen.

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.  And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15-16).

The new creature is the one who walks with the Lord.  The new creation is what replaces the old Adam, who insists on laws and regulations instead of walking humbly with God.  Come then and do not walk in the way of the world; but walk in the way of the Lord who created all worlds.  Yes, there is order, but its purpose belongs to the One who calls you to follow Him always.

Lord, always be the One leading me in this new life You have given me by grace and through faith.  Help me to avoid the traps that are set up in this age of wickedness which would ensnare me in the law’s unyielding demands.  Guide me in the way of life You have established so that I would learn how to live as one freed from sin, always seeking to do what is pleasing to the Father.  Guide me, O Lord, for I know well the way of the old Adam, but I do not yet fully know the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, You gave us a new commandment which sums up all of the old commands and re-establishes what You initially created as the order of things.  Guide me, Lord and  Savior, in the way of everlasting life that lives by humbly abiding in You.  Teach me how to think, act, and have my being so that I may abide in the way of life everlasting.  Lord, help me overcome the ways of this world with Your grace and live always abiding in You and in the way You lead me.  Amen.