As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:14-15)

Maturity is possible, but many are they who chose the path of flowing with the stream.  One must think, reason, and be willing to study in order to live the life Christ gives us.  You study those things which help you for what is important to you.  You learn based upon what drives you from your heart.  Are not the things of the Lord more precious than all other things?  He is the One who created all things.  Do not be tossed about by created things.

Lord, I am tossed about by the whims of this world.  Help me to see through this so that I may live in You and You in me.  Guide me according to Your goodness so that I might become a rock settled on You, the Rock of my salvation.  Let me know where I need to go and the things I need to do so that I may live into the promise of this life of faith.  Help me now and always to abide in You alone.

Lord Jesus, You have breathed in me Your Holy Spirit.  Lead me today according to the Father’s will to see through the confusion of this age so that I may be led by Your Spirit to do what is good, right and salutary.  Let me no longer trust in anything above You and the Word You have given me.  Grow me up in You so that I may bear the light of Your presence in all I say, do, and think.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Amen.

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)

How long are we to persevere?  Until we reach the prize.  When will that be?  When Christ returns.  The question we ought to ask is, “How may I serve You today?”  We ought to keep our eye on the prize of the One who has established this eternal relationship with us and live into His image.  Do you not know that being conformed to the image of Christ is the goal for which we strive in faith?

Lord, clear my mind so that I may focus my attention upon You and be guided by You through that comes my way and is according to Your will.  Lead me in the goodness of Your mercy so that I may now and always be led by what is right and fitting.  Help me to not be led astray, but to be guided by You, Your mercy, and the goodness of the grace You have given me.  Lift me up to become like You.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  You are the One who makes my faith possible and You are the One to whom I am to be conformed.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth in order that I would be guided by You alone in the hope of eternal life which You have given me through Your grace.  Let me know what I may do today as I move toward that goal.  Amen.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Each person is uniquely created, yet all bear the image of God.  We each have our purpose, yet it is for the whole that we live.  Do not walk the broad road of living for yourself, but the narrow road of living into the life the Lord gives through grace.  Live into your purpose and know that the Lord of all will guide you and keep you on that road which leads to the place where you are complete.

Lord, grant that I would have a heart that is satisfied in Thee.  Lead me away from the anxiety of this world and into the life You promise.  Help me to become who You are making me to be.  Lead me according to Your never-failing promises to look to You as the source of all being.  You have wonderfully created each one of us.  Help me become whom You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world so that through You we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me this day to see all the ways in which I can live out this life of faith that You have given knowing that in You alone is all hope.  Guide me to do good and walk toward a right future.  You have equipped me, now help me work, with all that You have given me to work with, for the glory of God.  Amen.

“(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things) (Ephesians 4:9-10).

Scripture clearly says over and over who Jesus is.  Only He who descended can ascend and He may take with Him whom He will.  Is this exactly the way it is done?  The Lord knows.  What is important for us to know is that we look to the One who has done this and through whom we have all hope.  Be guided by Him and look to Jesus so that He may abide with you and you with Him now and forever.

Lord there are many mysteries and there are those who will seek to fully understand what is Yours alone to understand.  Help me to instead focus upon You who Has come so that all who turn to You would be lifted up with You into eternity.  Guide me this day, O Lord, so that I would humbly walk in the way You have established and walk the path You have set before me.

Lord Jesus, You have descended so that all who turn to You and believe would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Guide me this day and every day which You give me to humbly walk in Your presence and live according to the direction of the Spirit which You have breathed on us.  Help me to learn to always abide in You as You abide in me and to rejoice in the promise and hope of life that You give.  Amen.

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.”  (Ephesians 4:7-8)

You alone are Lord of all and You will give what You will give.  We are not to argue, for of what value is that?  We are to look, listen, learn, and obey.  The world does not do these things, but you, person of faith, you have been given the promise.  What will you do with what God has given you?  Will you be one of the captives, going with Jesus and be one who knows that He has given good gifts?

Lord, let me be one who learns from You what faithfulness means.  Let me be one who uses what You have given so that You may be lifted up by me and known to those around me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I would now and forever be guided by You.  You alone are the author and finisher of the true faith.  You alone make grace possible.  You alone are the One who is trustworthy.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, through the grace You give, which is more than sufficient.  Help me now and always to see that in You alone is all hope.  In You is the future, when You will lead the captives into freedom.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may humbly walk in Your grace and mercy.  Lead me now and always to humbly abide in You as You abide in me.  Teach me to use the gifts You have given me for the father’s glory.  Amen.

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Once!  The Lord needs to do only once what needs to be done.  It is the Lord who does it.  He spoke and it has become so.  You were given the promise by God, through God, to be with God forever.  You may waiver, but He does not.  You may deny Him, but He will never deny Himself.  Trust in the One who makes all things to be as they will be.  Trust in the One whose promises never fail.

Lord, what more can I add to this?  Sadly, there are those who have come along and said, “Yes, but.”  Help me to not listen to them, but to You alone.  There is only You: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  There is only one promise given in the one baptism.  There is only one faith, for You are One God who is in all and through all.  Lead me, O Lord, in the one faith so that I may grow in the likeness of Christ.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, in the true faith in order that I may learn what it means to be faithful.  Guide me so that I may grow this day and every day You give me in the way You would have me grow.  Through all things, keep my eyes upon You, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Lead me Lord Jesus to see that You are my all-in-all.  Amen.

“Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:3-4)

Oh, how the church has ignored this admonition.  We do not preserve unity in the bond of peace.  Alas, we sinners are, well, sinners.  Yet this is the call that we should preserve unity.  Jesus did pray that we would be one, even as He and the Father are One.  The hope of our calling is even in this, Jesus will accomplish what we cannot.  He will again do for us that which we cannot do.

Lord, even in my private life, I have made such a mess of things.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by You.  Lead me to know that You alone are able to do all that is needed in order that we may have the life You promise.  However, give me a heart that truly seeks for unity and peace.  Lift me up in the hope of my calling, guiding me ever closer in this direction.

Lord Jesus, You have given me the words of eternal life.  You have prayed that we would be one as You are One in Trinity.  Lead me, O Lord, and do not let me take the reins.  Guide me, Lord, that I not wander in my directions.  Help me, Lord, even when I think I need no help.  In all things, keep me on the narrow path that leads to salvation and let me not stray off Your path.  Amen.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2)

Do not walk as one who believes they are worthy, but knowing it is Christ who makes us worthy.  There is a significant difference.  Being full of pride is what brought sin into this age.  Being filled with pride is what has continued the problem.  But also, we are not to act as whipped pups who have nothing.  Live knowing the great privilege which is yours through grace. Thank God for every breath you take.

Lord teach me so that I would know how to walk in a manner worthy of the gift You have given me.  Teach me what it means to be humble, patient, and gentle.  Guide me to live out these things in my daily walk.  Help me, O Lord, for You know where the obstacles are and how to remove the barriers so that I may learn how to walk faithfully.  I am Yours, O Lord, whatever that may mean.

Lord Jesus, You gave everything so that I might have the opportunity to be with You.  Help me learn how to give up everything so that You would be with me.  In giving up myself, teach me what it means to find my real self.  Lead me in the direction of the salvation You have prepared so that I may be always guided by You, O Lord, in the way of eternal life.  You have called me, Lord, now teach me how to follow You.  Amen.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

He Who is more than able will do what He has promised.  Do you understand that our Lord, who created all things, is more than able to do what He says He will do?  Our hope is not based upon what we can think up, but upon the One through whom all things have their being.  Do not be led by your strength, but rest in the strength of the One who has come to lead the way.  In Him is all life, hope, and the promise of a good future.

Lord, move me away from looking to myself or even others for the comfort that only You can give.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I would now and forever abide in You knowing that You are the source of all goodness.  Let me not be hindered by the lies of this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind to rest in You, Your will, and Your ways.  In You alone is all hope.

Lord Jesus, You are the way.  Only in walking with You will I find all that I desire.  Only in listening to You will I hear the words I need to hear.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life so that I would follow the narrow path You have established.  Lead me, O Lord, now and forever to be guided by You alone.  Teach me this day and fill my heart with the love and hope You know I need.  Amen.

“May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3).

Are you exploring?  Or are you one who thinks that they have it all figured out?  This life is complex, deep, broad, and high.  The depth of God will not be understood after a million years.  Never tire of seeking knowledge of the Lord, His ways, and all that He has shown You.  In Him is all life and all life reflects His mercy and goodness.  Do You pursue the things of the Lord?

Lord, grant that I may never tire of learning of Your goodness.  Guide me daily to learn new things and grow in my understanding of You and all that You have made.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I would now and forever seek after wisdom.  In You alone is life and its meaning.  In You is all knowledge.  Guide me, O Lord, to be one who pursues all that is right and good.    

Lord Jesus, You have come and taught us the way, truth, and life.  Yet, I have only begun to understand what these things mean.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would forever abide in You and the hope You have given me by grace.  Lead me, O Lord, to know that with You all things are possible.  Encourage me to be hungry for truth and to be willing learn what You teach.  Amen.