“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.

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:16-17)

Christ the Firstborn, who set the standard, is the pattern and we should be conformed to His image.  This is the hope and promise that Scripture speaks of.  We are strengthened to walk humbly in the way He established and are called to always follow Him in that way.  Be strengthened in the power of the Holy Spirit to humbly walk with the Lord, being rooted and grounded in His love.

Lord, there are the longings of my heart, but You know where I often get off track and wander in a different direction.  Lead me, Lord, in the right way so that I would simply and humbly walk with You.  Help me now and forever to live into the life for which You have called me.  Help me to not wander astray, but follow You in all of Your ways until that day when I stand before You face to face.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  You know where I am, where I am going, and all that needs to happen.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of salvation and let nothing hinder me from following You.  Ground me in Your love so that I may learn from You how to love my neighbor as myself.  Teach me all that You know I need to learn and grow in me the eternal way of life.  Amen.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Ephesians 3:14-15)

The source of our being is God.  Such a simple thought, which is so profound, is revealed.  We often act as though we are our own beings when we are really creatures created by the One who created all things.  We all ought to bend the knee and humble ourselves before the One through whom all things exist.  Come then and live into the hope and promise He alone can and does give.

Lord, I act as though I am my own person.  Yes, You have given me the ability to think this way, but this cannot be all that I am.   Lead me in the right direction so that I would look to You for all things.  In You alone is the source of life.  In You alone is all meaning.  Guide me, Lord, in the right way of thinking and being.  Guide me to live life as You have created it to be lived.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me in the way You have established by grace in order that I may walk humbly with You and live into the life that You have created for me to live.  In the way You alone know I need to walk, help me follow You so that I would continue as the Father’s new creation, becoming what You have planned from the beginning.  Amen.

“Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory” (Ephesians 3:13).

We know that there are those in this world who hate the Gospel.  We also know that the Lord knows all things and has planned beforehand for our salvation.  Therefore, what happens as we suffer for the sake of the Gospel must have a purpose that is fulfilled in God’s plan.  This is why we are told to rejoice that we are included in suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Lord, this is a mystery that I do not fully understand.  Help me Lord, to see that in You is hope and a future.  Guide me in the way of life that You have established so that I may now and always be led by You in the hope You give.  Let me not be discouraged by my suffering that will happen, knowing that all things are in Your hands and that You have promised to work them together for good.

Lord Jesus, You were no stranger to suffering.  All along the way there were those who were literally out to get You and we know where it ended: at the cross.  Help me through my times of struggle knowing that all things have always been in Your hands.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy to live through all that comes my way trusting in Your purpose for all things.  Amen.   

“This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:11-12).

The purpose fulfilled in Christ was determined at the beginning.  Do not believe those who deceive when they tell you these things were made up along the way.  The Lord is purposeful and has accomplished your salvation according to His eternal promise.  Trust Him and have confidence in what He has done for you.  Through Jesus You have gained salvation.

Lord, the world has been fighting against You from the beginning, but You knew they would.  There are those who try to deceive and lead people astray, but You knew that too.  Help me Lord, to see through the fog of this world and live in the hope You give me through Christ.  Guide me in Your goodness to look to You in confidence.  You have already done all that needs to be done.

Lord Jesus, in so many places in the Gospels you said, “My time is not yet.”  You knew what the time would be and how the world would press in on You.  In those simple words You express the truth that Your eternal purpose is of old.  You know what You are doing and You know what is needed.  Help me to trust You Lord so that I may now and always be led by You in the hope given by Your grace.  Amen.