“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.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

Be strong.  Not on your own, but in the Lord, be strong.  You can do nothing apart from Him and with Him all things are possible. Therefore, live in the Lord’s strength and know that in Him alone is all hope.  Stand firm knowing that our adversary roams around seeking whom He may devour.  If you are in the Lord, you know He is with you.  So, stand firm in Him and hold fast to the truth.

Lord, it is a wicked world and the wicked one seeks to devour all who come close to You.  Guide me to stand close to You always so that I may not fall prey to the devil’s schemes but live in Your love instead.  Guide me to look to You for all things and to do what You give me to do.  Help me now and always to know that Your strength is my strength and the hope of the Gospel is my hope.

Jesus, because You live, I too live.  You have come to set me free from sin, death, and the devil.  Help me now and always to know that in You is all hope.  Help me to live in Your strength knowing that in You is all strength.  Help me to live in faith knowing that You are the way, truth, and life.  Lead me now and always, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go.  Teach me to stand firm in You.  Amen.

“And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Ephesians 9).

Think about how much coercion is used in our world, that and intimidation.  It does no good.  Win another over, be it one above or below your position, through love.  Do not lord it over others; but serve as our Lord has served us.  We are not to show partiality, nor use force, but to love as we would need to be loved if it were us in the position of the other who is our neighbor.

Lord, You have brought me thus far to where I am, yet I know there is much more distance that needs to be covered.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth so that I would hold fast to what You are telling me and apply this to the core of my being.  Help me learn to serve others no matter who they are as I would want to be served if it were me in their place.  Guide me this day, Lord, in the way I need to go.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your help and guidance.  Through You alone am I able to do anything.  Only in You can I learn to love as You love.  Lead me this day to do what needs to be done and to be guided by Your principles.  Help me overcome the wiles of the wicked one and love as You love.  Help me today to put into practice what You have taught me that I may love all You bring my way.  Amen.

“With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free” (Ephesians 6:7-8).

We often become those who are more interested in what others think that in what the Lord thinks.  Do not seek to please men, as if such a thing were possible.  Instead, serve the Lord.  When serving another, do so in the Lord’s name.  Be guided by the Lord and His goodness and know that in all things, He alone is the One you serve.  Do not be led astray by your feelings; but live in His presence always.

Lord, let me see the simplicity of this so that I would not be led astray by the ways of the world.  You have created me to walk in Your presence.  I walk with You, for You, and in You always.  Let me not go to any other place, but instead, live into this life You have given me in grace.  In You Lord is all hope and the eternal promised future.  Keep me on Your narrow path now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You were always pointing to the Father and teaching us to do the same.  The world presses in and it wants what it wants.  But the world does not know what it wants.  Keep my eye on the prize so that I would be led by You alone and walk where You lead me, doing what You give me to do.  In You Lord is all hope.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would walk with You and serve You.  Amen.

“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5-6).

Being dutiful is often difficult.  We are not just to give the appearance of doing what needs to be done, but we are to be engaged in what we are doing.  When you work at another place, or volunteer, do not just go through the motions, but be there.  This is the precept, that in whatever you are called to do, do so as one who is serving the Lord.  Do all you do from your heart and the Lord will add yet more.

Lord, this is often a difficult thing to do.  I do not feel like being where I am sometimes.  Sometimes the people I am with are difficult to be around.  Help me move beyond my feelings to do what You would have me do.  Help me to have a right attitude in all things so that I may realize that whatever I do, I do as one who serves You.  Let me never roll my eyes, but roll up my sleeves and go to work for You.

Lord Jesus, while we were yet sinners, You died for us.  You have led the way in doing what needs to be done.  Guide me Lord in order that I would walk the same path and do what needs to be done.  Help me to overcome my feelings in order to do what You give me to do.  Then, help me do whatever it may be knowing that all things work together for good because of the Father’s love.  Amen