“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.

“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:20-21)

We do not come to Christ, nor live the Christ-life through the hedonism of this age.  It is not about how we feel, but about the One who has given His life for us in order that we may have eternal life in Him.  Do not turn the gift into a curse by mocking it or making of it something that it is not.  Be led by Jesus and come into His grace and mercy.  Jesus is the truth and in Him is all life.

Lord, let me see clearly the truth of Jesus and the life He gives.  Let me hear clearly Your Word on these matters so that I would never be led astray by the lies of this age.  Guide me in all truth.  Your Word is truth.  Lead me into the life You offer so that I may now and always be guided by You.  May I live into the new life You give through grace and be transformed by You, the author of all life.

Lord Jesus, You have come to infuse in me Your life.  Through You I have life and being.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may now and always abide in You and You in me.  Keep me from the wiles of the wicked one and help me stay on the narrow path which You have set before me.  Through You, Lord, I do have hope and a future.  Keep me for the future You have given me through grace.  Amen.

“And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness” (Ephesians 4:19).

The deeds of the sinful flesh are evident.  In this world there is the propensity of living for yourself.  Many walk this road.  This is the reality: God has created you for a purpose beyond yourself.  This is the road set before you.  Will you walk the road less traveled?  Do not be greedy for the life of this world.  Life is already yours.  Walk humbly with your Maker and in Him live true life.

Lord, what is before me is easy to see.  There are many around me who eat, drink, and make merry.  Guide me, O Lord, to live this life which You have given me and help me to not be carried away by this world.  Help me Lord so that I may not wander from the road You have set before me.  Teach me, Lord, and I will learn.  O God, may I not live with what the world offers, but in You, find the length, breadth and depth of true life.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me this day, O Lord, to see the new life You have placed before me.  May I know its worth and value and be led by You to live the new life.  In and through all things, renew my mind and guide my feet so that I may always remain in the light of Your countenance and be guided by Your Spirit through all things.  Amen.

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17-18)

Are you tired of political wrangling?  You should be.  Are you tired of the advertising, yelling at you and the world to “Buy, buy, buy?”  Good.  Do not be led by the world, but by the renewing of your mind.  The world is insane because they keep trying different things, which are really the same things, thinking they will bring happiness.  Only the Lord can satisfy what the Lord put into our hearts to satisfy the desires which are in them.  Seek first the Lord and then all other things will take their place.

Lord, this world would keep us in ignorance, but You have come that we may walk in the light of truth.  Open my eyes to see what is true and to see what is false.  Let me not be carried away by the pressures of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind in the truth of the grace You have delivered, once for all.  Keep the light in my mind, heart, and soul alive now and always.

Lord Jesus, You are the light shining in the darkness and as many as see the light receive the power to become children of God.  I have seen the light.  Keep me from ever turning from the light.  Keep me in You now and always so that I would humbly abide in You and You in me.  Guide me in Your goodness to live into this life which You have given me so that I would grow in Your likeness.  Amen.

“[Christ] from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).

We were created for Christ’s sake, just as He also died for the sake of all of us.  In Him is life and those who come through Him and in Him are given a new life.  Come then and be led by the One who knows You; He is the One through whom you have your being.  Live into the new life He gives through faith and be redeemed, restored, and made new by His wonderful grace.

Lord, too often I treat my faith as an add-on to my life.  You are the core, the center, and the purpose.  Let me not be carried away by the things of this world such that I do not see, nor understand that in You alone is all hope.  Guide me to live into the new life You give and grow in Your likeness.  Let me not make you one of many things, but love You above all things, as I know is right and fitting.

Lord Jesus, You demonstrated Your love for us in that while we were yet sinners, You died for the ungodly.  Help me now and always Lord, to see through the fog of this age so that I might live for You in the hope of salvation.  Guide me today, Lord, to do those things which back up what I know needs to be done and then add to it those things which I do not yet know which need to be done.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of salvation.  Amen.