“For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,  because we are members of His body” (Ephesians 5:29-30).

We know how to take care of ourselves.  We each may do it in our own way, but we do it none-the-less.  As we nourish and cherish ourselves, so we ought to see our spouse as a part of us.  Many see the other as chattel, but it ought not to be so amongst you who follow the Lord.  Come into His way of thinking and live according to the Father’s will and know what is right and good.

Lord, the world is contrary to what You say.  It wants us to nourish ourselves without concern for the other.  You have intended, in part, that we learn to love as You love, and that means cherishing the other as we do ourselves.  Lead me Lord, to come to the place where I know what this means.  Lead me into Your love, learning to think of the other and to do what is right simply because it is right.

Lord Jesus, You lived, laughed, and loved as we all do while on earth, but with a mission.  You have given each of us who follow You a mission.  Lead me in the mission You have given me so that I would love those close to me and my neighbors as You love them.  Guide me to know that only in You is this possible, but that in You it is not only possible, but can and will happen.  Amen.

“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28)

A normal and healthy person will care for themselves without thinking.  So, of course you love yourself.  Love others as your love yourself.  But know that this includes the boundaries you place upon yourself too.  You need not tolerate things in the name of love.  Love others as you love yourself: grace where grace is needed and law where law is need and all in Christ’s compassion.

Lord, teach me how to love and how to live.  You have come to lead us into a new life that does not do things the way the world does.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may live into this life You have given me in grace.  Teach me the things I need to know so that I would be led by You and not by the world.  Grant that I would be balanced and live in common sense and not by the lack of wisdom in this world.

Lord Jesus, You are love Incarnate.  You confronted those who were against the truth.  You loved those whom the world declared unlovable.  You loved each one of us enough to take our place on the cross.  Lead me Lord in the way You have established so that I would walk in this way and learn how to become like You.  Teach me to love others, beginning with loving them  as I love myself.  Amen.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

If the husband is the head of the house, then he leads the way.  The world leads one way and Christ leads another.  The world does so by force and Christ does this in love.  This speaks of love.  If a husband is willing to die for his wife, does it not make sense that she would be willing to follow?  Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church.  The depth of this is beyond our ability to fully grasp.

Whether called to lead or follow, teach me the role and how to live it according to Your Word, O Lord.  Let me not follow the way of the world, which is just so much contention and strife.  Help me to walk in the way You have established and to go down the path You have created.  Help me to lift up others and learn to love as You love.  In You alone can this be done.  Guide me so that I may truly be one who follows You.

Lord Jesus, You have loved us so much that You gave up Your life in order that we may have true life.  In that kind of love, teach me to lead where I am called to lead and to follow where I am called to follow.  Teach me the difference and give me the humility to follow whomever You appoint.  May I be found faithful at life’s end, having done things the way You would have me do them.  Amen.

“But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:24).

This is perhaps one of the most unpopular verses in our day.  The question is: who are you or I to question this?  If this is the Word of God, then ought we not listen?  Or are we to argue with God?  Isn’t that what caused this mess in the first place?  Well then, perhaps we ought to listen to the Lord and see what comes of it when we simply obey what He is commanding.  What then?

If husbands do what the Lord says in the following verses, it would make the command easier.  But are we to obey only because it is easy?  What about the Lord telling us to take up our cross and follow Him.  Do you ever wonder what society would look like if we all really just did what He said?  No one has, so let us take care and, for ourselves, try and be obedient as the Lord commanded.

Jesus, there are times when what you ask is so hard.  Help me understand that You are Lord and You have not asked my opinion about these things.  Teach me how to be obedient as You were obedient.  Help me take up whatever cross You give me and carry it as I need to carry it.  Lead me Lord so that I may be led by You in and through all things no matter what the world thinks.  Amen.

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23).

Sinful man uses order to lord it over others.  God uses order to keep things in harmony.  Do not take the things of the Lord and pervert them but use them as they have been created to be used.  The man is the head.  Thus says the Lord.  The world says we are all the same and each to his own.  If you decide to do this, so be it.  If the Lord decides, then walk in His counsel and learn what this means.  The man is to be the tie breaker, that’s what headship means.  No more, no less.

You have set everything in its course.  Those in this world continue in their rebellion against You and the order You have set.  Teach me more of Your order Lord in order that I would learn how life was meant to be lived.  Guide me according to Your precepts so that I would now and always look to You for wisdom.  Let me be in the order You have set and help me live in the way You intend.

Lord, the world hates Your order.  All around me I see where You are defied.  Lead me into humility, that place where I simply obey all that You command.  Guide me Lord so that where I am to be subject, I willingly follow.  Where I am to lead, help me to do so in love and with humility.  In all things, lead me to follow the example You have set that I may become like You in every way.  Amen.

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22).

Such an unpopular sentiment in our day.  This is not permission to put the little lady in her place.  The following verses make that clear.  Therefore, it is not what the world says.  The Lord is making a point in these passages about reliance and order in our lives, built upon the foundation of the family.  We all could learn the lesson of what it means to be subject.  The opposite is pride and self-will.

Lord You created me and I did not create You.  I am reliant upon You and You are not reliant upon me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I would be led by You.  Guide me to see that You have created us with a right order in mind.  Lead me in that order, Lord, so that I would be guided by You and the law You have set in place.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth in order that I may walk in that way.

Lord Jesus, You are the truth.  You are the One who has set the course for humanity.  Set the course for me this day so that I may walk in the truth of You.  Lead me according to the Father’s will to seek what is right and true.  Keep me close to You Lord in order that I would learn to subject myself to You as You subjected Yourself to the Father for our sake.  Let me not cling to my life, but to You, the source of all life.  Amen.

“Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:20-21).

Always giving thanks.  In good times, yes, this is easy.  But giving thanks at all times, even those you consider bad?  Who is at work in you?  Is not the Lord the One who will bring all things together for good according to His purpose? Yes!  Learn to give thanks in all situations knowing that the Lord is at work in you, doing that which is according to His will and good pleasure.

Lord, teach me to relax.  In the fear of You, which is the beginning of wisdom, yes, but not timid or afraid.  Lead me in the direction You know I need to go and help me move in that direction.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I would not walk in the ways of the world, but in the way of Christ my Savior.  Help me to more clearly understand what this means.  Then, help me to do what You tell me to do.

Lord Jesus, You have told us to go into the world and where we are received, stay.  You have said that where we are rejected, we are to move on.  Guide me Lord in the way You would have me go so that I might now and always be led by You.  Let me not look to myself or others, but always to You so that I may be guided by You alone.  Help me to help others to do what You know we need to do.  Amen.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19)

For what do you live and what are the things you want to do?  The world wants to feel good.  Feelings are fine, but they are fleeting.  Instead, focus upon what the Lord has in mind and do the things that are right and good.  A glass of wine for the stomach, but not a bottle to get drunk.  Yes, you feel, but do not live for those feelings.  Live the good life to which You have been called through Christ.

Lord, teach me temperance.  I do not have balance and I do not always even know what balance is.  Teach me how to live a balanced life, neither stern, nor dissipated.  Guide me to do what is right in Your sight, living as You have created life to be lived.  Teach me how to rejoice in You and live the good life for which You have called me.  In all things, let me look to You as my source and comfort.

Lord Jesus, You lived life in full while here.  You showed a balance to which You call us to live.  Teach me that balance so that I would learn from You how to live in this mixed up world.  Guide me according to Your goodness to live each day as it comes, giving praise to You and doing what is right in the Father’s eyes.  Through all that comes this day, let praise and thanks be in my heart and on my lips.  Amen.

“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

Many say they follow You, Lord.  Whether they really do or do not, I do not know.  The one I do know about is myself.  Lead me into deeper understanding so that I would not be foolish, but wise about the life You have given me through grace.  Guide me to live into the new life and leave behind the ways that lead to destruction.  Grant me wisdom to know the difference between the two.

Almighty Father, You have created us to worship You in spirit and truth.  Guide my heart so that it would always be close to You.  Lead me in the way of salvation in order that I would forever hold fast to the Word You have revealed.  Let me not be caught up in the foolishness of this world, but guided be by Your spirit into the way of everlasting life.  Teach me how to worship You, Lord.

Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Spirit to keep me from being foolish.  Help me to see the simple things that I can do to preserve the rule of grace in my life.  Let me not seek excuses to sin; but empower me to find ways to serve.  Let me not focus upon myself, but upon You, the One who makes all life possible.  Guide me in the way You would have me go and then lead me in that way.  Amen.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

How often do people go through the motions and go with the flow.  We are called to follow Christ, which means going against the flow of culture.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be renewed in your mind in Christ so that you would be conformed to His image.  He will give you the wisdom you need.  He will guide you in all of your ways.  Make the most of these things and come into His presence and purpose.

Lord, I do go along to get along.  I do not fight the good fight, but fight against what You have established.  Lord, keep me from doing things in the way of the world.  Let me see where I am not being conformed to You, but to this world.  Teach me not so much to be a contrarian, but to hold fast to what is noble and true.  Let me not be one who compromises the truth.  Help me to see these things clearly.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  You have come that by grace we would be saved from the wickedness of this world.  Let me not fall back into the pit but come into Your power and live life as it is meant to be lived.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth which You have established and grant wisdom so that I may discern which way to go each step of the way.  Amen.