“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (Ephesians 2:3).

The carnal mind governs those who have not been redeemed by the Lord.  Whether it is appetites of the stomach, desires of greed, or any number of other carnal things, humanity is driven by the things of the flesh.  The Lord has freed us by grace to not be bound by these things.  Come and live into the new life you have been given by Christ.  Do not satisfy your urges with what is carnal. Focus upon what truly satisfies; and these are the things of the Lord.

Lord, teach me this new life so that I may walk humbly with You in the newness of life that You have given me through grace.  Guide me Lord in the way of true life.  Lead me according to Your Holy Spirit so that I may know when the carnal things are tempting or even consuming me.  Through all things, guide me to have a clean and right spirit so that I may be in my right mind and begin again each day walking faithfully with You.

Lord Jesus, You have come into this world so that we may have true life.  Lead me in the way of living so that I may humbly walk with You my Lord and learn to live the new life, which is not driven by that which is physical, but instead, is led by You.  Help me through the struggles that come my way so that I may overcome the temptation to live with what the old Adam desires.  In all things, help to know that You are the author and finisher of my faith and that I am in Your loving and gracious hands.  Amen.   

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2).

There are only two ways for which we can live.  The first way is that into which we were born, that is, in the disobedience of this age.  The other is to live in the salvation we have been given through Christ.  In which will you walk?  You cannot walk both ways, although you live with both of them present in this age.  This is the way of this age, but not of the age to come.  Live into the promise of the Lord now and forever.

Lord, help me to see the difference between the two positions in this age.  Help me to discern, lest I follow the wicked one and not You.  Guide me in Your grace to live into the life for which You have called me so that I may now and always follow You and the way of truth.  Keep me from the wicked one and help me to learn how to walk faithfully in the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have made possible so that I would walk following You now and forever.  You have given me the example and made the way possible through the cross.  Help me live into the life that You have made possible through grace so that I would follow You now and forever.  Let me not be confused by this world, but instead, be transformed by You.  Amen.

“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

Who is the head of your local church?  Jesus.  Who is head over all of the governments in this world?  Jesus.  See things as they are and not as people pretend them to be.  Be guided by the truth that Jesus is not a nice idea, but the Eternal God become flesh, who dwells among us and is leading the faithful to the Father.  Let reality govern your days and your deeds and do not let the false narrative of this age, which are filled with lies and deceit, be your guide.

Lord, give me eyes to see and a mind to discern so that Your voice may be heard clearly over all of the noise of this age which surrounds me.  Guide me in Your goodness to live into the life to which You have called me through faith so that I may walk the narrow way of faith and be led by You.  Fill me with Your goodness and mercy so that I may reflect Your light to those around me.  Lead me as You so choose so that I may walk by Your direction.

Lord Jesus, You have come as the example of life.  You have come as the Mediator.  You have come so that all who follow You would know the way to walk in this world and the direction which leads to faithfulness.  Guide me this day so that I may humbly go where You lead and live into the life for which You have called me.  Let me not be led astray by this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind by focusing upon You.  Amen.

“Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21)

We prioritize things.  Do we have things in the right order?  Let’s see, Jesus gets five minutes in the morning and/or evening and a couple of hours on Sunday.  Is this the way we deal with the One who is above all?  Jesus is above all names and has dominion, power, and authority.  The first commandment tells us to love the Lord with all our being.  Check your priorities and make sure they are set in the right order.

Lord, where I do not have temperance and I am unbalanced, help me see more clearly and come into balance.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may walk humbly with You, the One in whom we all have our being.  Lead me to be one who lives out Your commands and follows You all the days of my life.  Let me not give You just lip service, but give myself whole-heartedly.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me O Lord in the way of truth so that I may humbly walk where You lead.  Direct my days and my deeds so that I may live the truth that You are the One, above all others, and therefore, the most important person and the One who is central in my life.  Lead me as You will Lord and let my heart be conformed to You.  Amen.

“And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19-20)

How do we know these things are true?  He who is able to raise the dead has promised to raise all in order for us to stand before Christ on the final day.  If Christ was not raised from the dead, then we who believe are to be pitied.  But Christ has been raised from the dead, so believe in the One who has conquered sin and death.  He who overcame sin and death, has overcome them for all who believe in His name, even unto the blessed assurance of salvation.

Lord, all mystery is in Your hand.  You have come and revealed the way to life everlasting.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of the life You have revealed so that I may walk humbly with You.  Guide me this day to know the overwhelming truth of what You have done.  Guide me in Your goodness to see each day the best way to live in You and then live the life You have given me.

Thank You Jesus for making the way of salvation possible.  Thank You for paying the price that no one but You could pay.  In Your care, and by Your direction, guide me this day to live into the life You give knowing that in You alone is all hope and the promise of eternal life.  Direct my days and deeds, O Lord, so that I may always be found walking with You.  Let my mouth speak Your praise and my deeds show Your precepts.  Amen.

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17-18)

Do you read the words and see the message?  We have not yet received what is ours, or should I say, the promise of what will be.  We have been given the power to become children of God.  As children, we will inherit eternal life.  These are the promises that belong to those who follow Christ.  Come then, as one who lives in the hope of promise, and be enlightened in the truth of the Lord.

You have given all good things necessary so that those who believe may know their portion in You, Lord.  Guide me this day in the way of truth so that I will not wander around searching for whatever I may hope to find, when I already have the inheritance promised which all of us are searching for.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of living that prepares me in the hope You give to live into the life You promise.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way and paid the toll so that all who follow You may walk the narrow road of promise which leads to life eternal.  Guide me in the way of truth so that I would not be as one who is searching, or as one who has no hope.  Guide me in the salvation way to live this day and every day You give me, in the truth You have revealed once for all.  Help me always follow You in all of Your ways.  Amen.

“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.