“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love” (Ephesians 6:23-24).

Listen to this benediction.  Peace and love with faith be with you.  What is it we should desire?  Is it not these things?  Why do I spend so much time on things that do not matter and so little time on what my heart truly desires?   Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Come into the presence of the Lord and live in His peace and love.  Share the light of this truth with all whom you meet.

God has given us life.  God has shown us how that life is to be lived.  Will you follow the Lord’s lead and live into the life you have been granted through grace?  This is the proposition of the faith.  You can live for yourself or you can live the life for which you were created.  In that you have the freedom to chose.  Choose the better portion and live life as it is meant to be lived.

Lord, teach me Your way so that I would live with grace, loving my neighbor.  You have come as the example of the godly life, giving Your life so that we may live.  You have come to be the expression of love in a world filled with rebellion.  By Your example, help me now and always to live into the hope which is mine through the salvation You give.  Amen.

“I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts” (Ephesians 6:22).

The Lord sends those who will instruct you and comfort you in His ways.  Do you listen to them?  So often, we are busy and distracted and do not listen to what the Lord would have us hear.  Repent of your closed ears and be willing to listen as the Lord speaks to you each day.  Be willing to receive what the Lord gives you, knowing that in Him is all hope and eternity.  Listen to the words of everlasting life.

Lord, I live in a world that is filled with noise.  So many have opinions about this, that, and the other thing.  Guide me, Lord, to live into the faith You have given me.  Help me see that only in You is there true hope.  Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see so that I would understand more fully this gift of new life You have given and the promise of eternal life that You have made.  Help me listen to You today!

Lord Jesus, You have the words of everlasting life.  To whom else can we go?  Yet I am distracted all day long and do not listen as You speak.  Kill the old Adam and raise the new person You spoke into being so that I may put into practice those things which lead into the life You give through faith.  Let me receive and give comfort in and through You and the way of grace You give.  Amen.

“But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you” (Ephesians 6:21).

We share with one another as we are able.  The Lord has shared what we need to know.  We have not yet received everything, but this we know: He who created us has also made possible our redemption.  The redeemed are seeking truth.  You have the words of eternal life.  Let us come then and be encouraged by those whom the Lord sends.  Listen and learn.  Know that in the Lord You will become whom He is making you to be.  He who created you has great plans to prosper you and keep you from evil.

Lord, You must be Lord and I must submit.  I am often struggling with this because although I know You are Lord, I always seem to want to inject my opinion in almost every matter.  Help me to learn how to sit back and listen.  Help me learn how to take directions.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of true life so that I may walk according to Your guidance and not according to my self-directed way of living.

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me and prepare me to go out.  Let me not be concerned with myself; but help me to lose myself in You.  Through all things, strengthen me in this faith that You have given me and continue to conform me to the image of Christ.  Lead me, O Lord, and teach me to follow.  You have already given me all that I need.  Help me see and put these things together so that I may become complete as You are complete.  Amen.

“And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20).

We all need encouragement.  Do not look to another as your model of the godly life, but to Christ who is the author and finisher of your faith.  Do not be guided by those who might conform you to this world, but to the One who will conform you to Himself so that you might be presented without spot or blemish to the Father as one who has overcome through the grace you have been given.

Lord, the mystery is great, yet I see it every day.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by you. Help me this day to see more clearly, to love and follow you more nearly, as You lead me in the way I need to go.  Help me to look beyond myself and be an encouragement to others as You have encouraged me.  Lead me Lord where You will.

Lord Jesus, You came not to be served, but to serve.  You are Lord, but You do not lord it over others.  By Your example, help me to be an encouragement to others so that I may be bold in this faith You have given me, knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life and I will follow You all the days of this life into life eternal.  Give me boldness to always speak truth with kindness.  Amen.

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18)

Jesus taught us to pray without ceasing.  Pray in the spirit and know that the Holy Spirit walks with You.  Do not lean on your own understanding, but upon the Word which has been spoken to you and dwells within you.  Be guided every day by the simple truth that you are battling against the wiles of the wicked one.  Know that he has already been overcome by your Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lord, I hear these things and know them, but I do not practice them as I ought.  Grant that I would become a person who continuously prays and leans upon You for all understanding.  Guide me ever deeper into the faith through Your Spirit.  Keep me connected with Your saints so that I may be encouraged in the daily battle which is ours in this age of rebellion and sin.  Keep me close to You.

Thank You Jesus for paying the price I cannot afford to accomplish the tasks I could never do apart from You.  Lead me ever deeper into the mystery of the salvation You have given me so that I may grow to be like You.  Help me now and always to look to You, listen to the Holy Spirit, and be constantly focused upon the Father’s will.  Lead me today, Jesus, in the truth You have revealed.  Amen.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)

You have been saved by grace through faith, and you know this because of the Word which has been spoken to you.  When Jesus resisted the temptation of the devil, it was the Word He spoke to counter the lies of the wicked one: “It is written…”.  The Word is a two-edged sword and will never come back void.  Wear your salvation, carry the Word with you wherever you go and know the Lord is with you.

Lord, I hear these things, but I do not do them as I ought.  Lead me, O Lord, not only to be one who hears, but also one who heeds what I hear from You.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may walk humbly in Your presence, knowing the truth and living it.  You have saved me.  You have given me all that I need.  You are the One who empowers me to become Your child.  Help me live this.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh and through You and about You are all things.  Guide me ever deeper into the truth You have revealed once for all.  Your payment on the cross is the redemption we need in order to become what You are making of us.  Help me to dwell deeply in Your Word, for Your Word is truth.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I would now and always abide in You and You in me.  Amen.

“In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16).

My faith looks up to Thee, O Savior, who died for me on Calvary.  Lead me in this faith to trust no one else but You and those who speak of Your redeeming love.  Guide me, Lord, such that I would not be wounded by all the false ideas that are around me.  Help me see the light of truth which You have brought into the world.  Lead me, Lord, and I will follow where You lead.

Equip me, Lord, to fight the good fight of faith in this world which has little faith.  Help me to trust in You above all things and to avoid displacing You from that spot in my life which desires to be number one.  Guide me along the right path so that I would see the battle and not fall for the tempters’ constant attacks.  Lead me in the way of truth.  You are truth; lead me into You!

Lord Jesus, You have fought the fight we cannot fight.  You have won the battle we could not win.  You have prepared the way so that all who follow You are equipped to move forward.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I would forever hold fast to the truth of Your love and live in the way You have established.  Help me now and always to see that You alone can lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“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.