Good morning! Thank God that as believers we are no longer living in disobedience to God and following Satan. We have been changed through Christ Jesus. Enjoy today’s devotion and your weekend.
Bible Verse: Ephesians 2:1-9 NLT
“1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Reflection
Last night in Bible study we reflected on these verses. We contrasted on what our spiritual conditions were before we had faith in Christ and what God has done for us in Christ.
I’ve read these verses over the years, but sometimes reading them with a different focus awakens us to see the truth. Without Christ we are utterly lost. I challenge you to compare and contrast these verses on your own today or throughout the weekend.
Prayer
Father God, in the name of Jesus we come in prayer today to ask that you change our hearts and course correct our thoughts and motives. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and all that you have given to us through Christ Jesus. Lord, we thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to save us. We thank you for giving us life and for seating us in the heavenly realms because we are united with Jesus. Thank you for your kindness and grace. Thank you for your grace and salvation.
Lord, we pray for those who don’t believe in You. We pray for those who know of You but have chosen not to follow Christ. We pray for Christian who believe and have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior but continues to be disobedient to your word and follows the guidance of Satan instead of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, we pray for those who follow the passionate desires and inclinations of their sinful nature, and ask that you turn their hearts and minds to you. Lord, break the chains that Satan has them shackled in. Lord, set them free from his hold. Lord, guide them back to you. Open their eyes to see the truth and give them the desire to live for Christ. Lord, strip off the old self that we carry around and keep renewing us in you every day.
Lord, we pray for Damianus Aditya Christie and we ask that you continue to work in her heart and his and soften it. Lord, help them to overcome all the obstacles that keep them from living the fullness of their lives in you. We pray for all the other prayer requests and ask for you to continue to work in us. Keep transforming us. In Jesus name amen.
Bible Study
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PRAYER REQUEST
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