I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us 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.”(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:1-16 ESV
Before you begin to pray, take a deep breath and quiet your thoughts. Focus on being in the presence of God. Thank God for hearing your prayers. Then reread the scripture we will study next Sunday, Ephesians 4:1-16. Read it slowly, recognizing that God is speaking to you through His Word. If God puts something specific on your heart, pray about that today.
Thank. Verse 10 says, “He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” We can take great comfort knowing that Christ has descended to the depths and ascended far above the heavens. Our God fills all things. He is everywhere! Thank God today that He is everywhere. There is no place you are alone!
Adore. God “fills all things.” What a glorious thought! We are never far from God. Let’s praise God today for finding us wherever we are and for loving us in all circumstances.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea
even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:7-10
Confess. If God is everywhere and always available to us, why don’t we seek Him more often? Reflecting on God’s presence in all things makes us realize that at times we turn away from Him. Let’s confess to God that we sometimes flee from His presence and then turn toward Him with the assurance we are forgiven.
Others.
| CU Church: Pray for the Junior High Ministry at CU. Pray that staff (Aleisha) and the volunteers who serve will connect with students in meaningful ways and that the students will hear and be transformed by the love of God. |
| Community: Pray for Youth for Christ of East Central Illinois. Pray that they reach more and more young people with the transformational love of Jesus. yfceci.org |
| Global Church: Pray for the 1.2 million children that are trafficked each year for the purpose of sexual exploitation. “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4 blackboxinternational.org |
Self. God is listening. He loves you. Pray for any specific needs that you or your family have.