Mark 2 Jesus' authority to forgive sins

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic— "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
(Mark 2:1-12 ESV)

This is such a beautiful story of the faith of these men to do whatever it takes to bring this man to Jesus for healing. Their faith and urgency is such a great example in contrast to our complacent often small faith and prayers.

Yet they are in for a surprise I think. For Jesus first and primarily addresses the spiritual healing needed. Jesus forgives the paralytics sins bringing him into relationship with God the father and salvation! Jesus seems to heal him almost as an afterthought or as the text says Jesus heals him so that the people would know he has authority to forgive sins.

I know that I often place my circumstances and things of this world before God thinking they are the most important issues. I get so wrapped up in things that are not lasting or eternal. This year some things have been: my personality type, time management, relationships, balancing and maintaining friendships, fundraising, lack of motivation, discouragement and identity. At times I have let these things overwhelm me. Yet like this paralyzed man Jesus acts in a way that says those things are such insignificant importance compared to the forgiveness and salvation in Christ. Often I focus my energy on things that do not last instead of my eternal fate. I focus on my weaknesses or problems instead of on God and his promises. These things are natural but I want hem to be things I take to God. I want to pursue you in prayer and in your Word and in action more than these other things. I want to repent and be transformed by your grace constantly!

The man and the faithful who went to extremes to get him to Jesus experienced a miracle of physical healing which seems more obvious and maybe more significant. But not to Jesus and I hope not in my life. That man was changed from the inside out, even if he never walked again the forgiveness and salvation is of such heater and lasting significance:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 ESV)

Suffering looks different for us all, but we all have it and this life is not easy. Jesus promised us suffering. We should not be surprised and we should hold even closer to God dependent on him because there is nothing in this life that can make us happy or safe or fulfilled outside of Christ. Let us focus our hearts on heaven and prepare our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits to prepare us for and have our hope in the glory that we will experience with God! God help me to keep this perspective through Christ as he set the ultimate example of this!
Amen

Mark 1 Jesus' prayer life

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
(Mark 1:35-39 ESV)

It just seems interesting and powerful the way Jesus in the trinity is in communication with God. I love that Jesus even gives us a model of prayer. Jesus is the one in most intimate relationship with God the father and yet Jesus gets up early to pray to his Father right before big transition happens and Jesus begins to really move his ministry from town to town.

Lord I am just really feeling the need to be in prayer and be more dependent on God. These past weeks have been hard as I have really had to wrestle with some idols in my life and my expectations of God and the way he interacts with us. Tonight I found out my church back home and that congregation may not be able to support my ministry financially which is a major blow to my financial support team. But I want to respond in faith and prayer trusting God will provide for what he has planned and that it is ok I am not in control and that things are going to be hard.

All of this has been hard but good to really push me to depend on God alone not relationships, success, a particular church, not my plans or expectations. God help me to trust in you and persevere through prayer and a continued faithfulness to you God in all I do.
Amen

Do I trust God's plans for me?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Do I trust this promise from God in two ways: that God knows what is good for me more than I do and that he can and will work all things for my good? Do I trust these things even when I often don't get what I want and in my free will I choose things that are often sinful and bring harm to me. Do I believe that my sin and free will has the final day or God?

I think it is important to keep this verse in context:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
(Romans 8:26-30 ESV)

In this I find from verse 29 the important fact that of primary importance to God and to us in our eternity is to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. There are lots of things I think are good which may not move me towards Christ and his likeness in which case they may not really be good for me. Yet I often demand them and expect them from God.

An area I am really thinking about in this is relationships. I feel I made a mistake or missed out on something that was really good. So how do I wrestle with that. I believe God gives us free will to choose. Yet I feel I made a mistake that cost something good. How can God work this for my good if I missed out? First I think I have to remember Gods first priority is my salvation and conformity to Christ. In many ways who I marry as long as she is a Christian is not of primary importance. And since God lets us choose maybe what I chose isn't really a mistake and I didn't miss out on something better I just choose and acted on what I knew and thought and felt. Maybe I wish things were different but I didn't sin in this in particular. And I may wish something different happened but I am still in relationship with Christ and I can trust he still has good for me even if it is not what I want looking back and wishing things were different.

The reality as I look around is that most people who want to get married do so. That isn't really a realistic worry. A much more realistic reality is that many people walk away from The Lord and pursue sin, many people divorce, those things are of far more lasting and destructive result. If I gain the world or even just a wife now but lose my soul than I have gained nothing.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:36 ESV)

So Lord I pray not for you to change the past or to fix the future on what I think I want. You know better than I do what is good. Lord I do want relationship and those things. But instead I first want to pray you protect me from the evil one and from my own corrupt heart that draws me from you. Lord I pray in all things even in confusion over relationships I grow more in dependence and a clear of understanding of you. Lord I want to place my hope in your truth and not in you giving me what I want. For that is not who you are and points only to idols. Lord I want to trust and follow you alone.
Amen

Mark 1:29-31 be Healed and immediately serve

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
(Mark 1:29-31 ESV)

I just think we as church goers have an unhealthy mindset that church is a place for us to be served and fed and talent care of by others and by God. I know I have that attitude a lot of the time I just go in and out and it is all about me. Even just little things like do I sit with a friend or a guest of the church and welcome them.

Yet I love how this woman is healed and immediately begins to serve. In a similar way I want to grow up about my faith and be an adult who feeds himself and doesn't always go in to church being ready to be fed. I want to be asking: how can I serve? Because that is what Jesus did too. When he finds out about John the Baptists death and goes alone to a quiet place a crowd follows him. And even then in that time of sadness he loves and serves the people in word and leads his disciples who are also grieving because many of them were Johns disciples to serve. Yet he said they got the rest they need in going away. I think it is because the rest we need is to do the will of God.

But lord I am lazy and selfish and I ask for your help as I try to change live it of a new heart to serve.
Amen.

Mark 1 Jesus' authority over demons

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
(Mark 1:21-28 ESV)

At first I was having trouble relating to this passage because as Americans we usually blind ourselves and deny the spiritual reality of demons in our world and in us. But then I thought of all the lies that I have been hearing recently about my self worth and identity. I have been letting the devil speak lies that are harmful and destructive and completely untrue:

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
(John 8:44 ESV)

Yet Jesus is the one who speaks truth and if I hold to the gospel then God speaks all the healing truth to counter these lies I have been stuck in:

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:9, 12, 14 ESV)

By faith in Jesus I have become a son of God part of the family and a fellow heir with Christ. I am worthy and loved and forgiven again and again because I am part of Gods family.

This passage from Mark is a good reminder that Jesus has complete authority over the demons and the devil and their lies. The demons literally cry out in fear in Jesus presence. And through the Spirit Jesus gives us the same authority to cast out the lies from the devil in our lives.

So I cast out these lies about my identity and worth being wrapped in relationship and success and ministry. I cast out the lies that I am unworthy and unloved and alone in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Instead I speak to myself the truth of the gospel that I am worthy through Christs righteousness, loved by my creator, and a son a beloved member of gods family not alone at all. God I pray you continue to speak truth and protection over me. Thank you for the ways you have already been answering that prayer.
Amen

Mark 1:13 Our savior can sympathize

And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (Mark 1:13 ESV)

Jesus suffered far worse than us in temptation by satan and on the cross. Yet it is easy to trick ourselves and say our situation is unique. We say it isn't clear what God wants here. God can't relate to how hard this is. But yes Jesus can relate and yet he did not sin.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15, 16 ESV)

Praise be to God for this was all in your plan.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your obedience to suffer and experience temptation so that you could make the sacrifice for us and yet feel the temptation and weakness we feel.

This is so beautiful that our God has made the sacrifice for us and yet he is not far off from us or our sin. God you know me and my weakness. You experienced this human life and yet you were without sin. Through your work Jesus and by my faith in you I am so amazed that I can approach the throne of grace with confidence! For I am in need of mercy and grace to complete my repentance and live anew to you! Thank you! All praise and glory to you!
Amen

Mark 1 Leaving everything to follow Jesus

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
(Mark 1:16-20 ESV)

Like the disciples I have given up my career and plans to follow The Lord. But I was thinking what are the things I have been reluctant to let go of and give to God? Relationships, comfort, approval, and success are the biggest things I have been trying to give up but I feel myself holding on to them like things in a net that I am afraid to trust to The Lord. I appreciate the way that the disciples so quickly saw how following Jesus was worth letting go of careers, family, expectations. I think in some ways it would be easier to have a clean cut like they had.

Sometimes I think I have let go of these things but later find I have still been holding on covering it up with other acts of obedience. But in some part of me I am holding on to things like the hope of relationship as what my hope is in. I make my faith about being good enough to get what I want instead of about being faithful and experiencing the good God has for me.

Lord show me what it means to let go of my nets and my plans and hopes so that I can be with you! I am sorry I hold on so tightly and trick myself into thinking I have let go when I haven't.
Amen

Mark series: the gospel and kingdom

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
(Mark 1:1, 14, 15 ESV)

This starts my study of the gospel of Mark. I love the urgency and simplicity of this gospel. The author by the Holy Spirit records just the bare details of what Jesus did from the beginning of his ministry. Often it doesn't even give details on what he taught instead giving primarily what he taught through his actions.

I want to focus on two important points this gospel makes:

1
This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God continued his work in the beginning of the church as the good news became reality for the first believers. Now the Gospel continues to come to life in us bringing us from sin and death to new life. The gospel is not history it is living and active. Jesus has done the work but now he is at work in us as the gospel transforms us.

2
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Now.
And also in its fullness of heaven it is
Urgently coming!

So what do we do?
The same thing Jesus called from the beginning of his ministry:
Repent and believe the gospel

For repentance is a lifestyle not a single moment decision or action. And to truly repent and turn to God and change means believing and living the gospel as Jesus forgives, transforms and redeems us and our sin.

There are constantly ways I sin in action and sin in believing lies that are against the gospel.
The devil is at work to pull us from God. Yet God is near and far more powerful. If only I invite God in through repentance and prayer then God will save me and even through hard things refine me.

God help me hear the gospel truth to counter the lies I am hearing and struggling with now about my loneliness and about my worth. I am struggling to feel my purpose or even in remembering my purpose I feel I am not doing a good job in ministry and personal faith. So I let myself feel unworthy or useless and lost. God remind me of my identity as your beloved son despite my sin and imperfection. God remind me I am not alone with you and the body of believers around me you have blessed me with. Lord I want to repent of my sin in action and believing lies. Help me believe the gospel.

Lord I want to seek you passionately in your word and in prayer but I have not been. I confess this and ask that you help rekindle this passion. I want to desperately and always seek you and rely on you Lord. You are my only hope and you are faithful!
Amen

Ephesians 4 to put off our old self and deceitful desires?

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV)

What does it truly mean to put off our old selves and our former lives which were corrupt by deceitful desires?

It seems like I have to give up everything I did and liked. But we are still in the world but not of the world. Can I still watch movies? I know my former deceitful desires are mixed in my motivations so what do I do?

Here it says the next step is to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and then to put on the new self. Perhaps it is the motivations of our minds and actions that first must be changed.

Gentiles including me before Christ formerly lived with the purpose of meeting my desires: emotional, feeling valued, sexual, intellectual, personal. In that former life I did whatever I could without others or myself being to critical or condemning to meet these desires.

Now in Christ what do I live for? What is the motivation that drives me? Giving glory to God. Being a part of God's purposes. Seeking God and finding him as he reveals himself to me.

Yet all of those former desires are part of the way God made us and not wrong unless being chased after in the wrong time or wrong way. Sexual desire is natural and good and the way God made me. It is not wrong that I want it, it is sinful if I seek it outside of marriage. The question is how can I fulfill the basic needs in me without sinning? How can I fuel that energy and desire towards something productive for example preparing myself for marriage: learning to dance, growing in what it means to be a man of God, learning how to communicate and care for my friends who are girls.

It is similar to how later in Ephesians 4 Paul talks about emotions particularly anger:

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26, 27 ESV)

God gave us emotions. Anger is not evil or sinful, but how we respond to that anger can be. Yet if we let ourselves be angry and process it and find the cause of our anger and address things in our hearts and situations then we can let our anger go in hours. This allows us to feel better and yet not sin and not suppress our emotions which leads to guilt and bitterness leaving room for the devil.

God I am letting some of my deceitful desires control me instead of living for you and glorifying you in my body and mind. Lord help me to accept the way you made me: to desire relationship and to have emotions but to not sin. Help me to be renewed in my mind that I would have your wisdom to know how to use those desires as motivations for actions that would satisfy me in healthy ways and glorify you. Lord live in me!
Amen

Ephesians 4 Loving worthy of our call

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.
(Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)

This is just so humbling. Christ was crucified for us. Paul was in prison for the faith and for preaching the gospel to us Gentiles. Yet here we are as Christians living safe, boring lives that are often unworthy of the calling of Jesus Christ. I want to live a life that is worthy of the calling he has for me.

Yet so much of the time I am selfish and lazy. I do my hours for InterVarsity and Young Adults Group and sometimes personal devotions. Yes rest and sabbath is good, but I want to approach them differently that is glorifying to God and honoring to my body, soul, heart and mind. Often I watch a movie recently and play tower defense. But that is not productive or even restful. Even when I do other things I often overwhelm myself with plans with people and don't make time or planned intentional time for just personal time. As a result when I am home I am often too lazy, unintentional and tired to really rest well and take care of my apartment, health or mind.

Paul says to live in a manner worthy of our calling focusing on our relationships: humility, gentleness, patience, grace. God often in stressful times or times I am tired I do not consider others needs. Lord I confess my selfishness and pride. Lord help
me to repent and turn to you, asking forgiveness of others and seeking to bring about unity and encouragement.

Lord for my ministry please give me this heart for the students who don't come. It is easy for me to be hurt and sad and respond in annoyance or frustration. But God I ask you help encourage me to do the hard work to continue leading and trying new things to reach those who have chosen ou. Lord I pray I would have hard conversations and they would change my heart and help people return to IV your community and to following you!

For we are united by your Spirit and in you in all ways Lord. Yet we must work at it! God I confess my resistance to really work and change in some ways. But Lord I am not sure I can repent and change yet. Lord soften my heart. Put it on my heart the calling you have to be a Jesus follower and to live a life worthy of that calling.
Amen

My Calling to ministry from God's word

Here are some verses that inspired me as I considered my call to full time ministry. They are a good reminder to me of why I do what I do even in the hard times. Also I need to remember all the fruit is from the Lord. On the other side my identity is not in my success as a minister it is that I am a son of God through adoption by the Spirit through Christ.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
(Luke 10:1-3 ESV)

Why do I go to the college campus? Because I believe God has a harvest there in the lives of college students. And I have seen God start to bring in his harvest at CU, all glory to you Lord! This is my hope that many would know The Lord. I also pray for more workers! I pray that the students I lead would go on to become world changers for you Christ! I pray heir faith would be transformed and their hearts centered on your mission through InterVarsity. God I pray for many more missionaries and staff and church leaders to be developed through my ministry. I pray for Multiethnic and powerful staff for InterVarsity that would go to the unreached on every campus and every corner of campus. I pray that college students would then go to every corner of the world with your gospel!

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
(Romans 10:13-17 ESV)

Paul references Joel 2 a prophecy about the day of The Lord:

"And it shall come to pass afterward,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old men shall dream dreams,

and your young men shall see visions.

Even on the male and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
(Joel 2:28-32 ESV)

And so I pray with Paul that in my ministry and life I would preach and know only Christ and him crucified.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV)

Lord I pray you would use my ministry and that you would bring many to faith by your power and Spirit, I pray that their faith would rest on your power and not my wisdom or human wisdom. I pray Lord I would not build the kingdom of InterVarsity but your Kingdom Lord!

Ephesians 4 Christs purpose in different Spiritual Gifts

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 4:7-16 ESV)

After 2000 years I still don't think we are there yet: we are not fully unified in faith or knowledge of the Son of God. I am still not mature as a man of faith in the fullness of stature of Christ. We the church are often like children tossed to and fro by he waves of our circumstances, by death, by sadness, by sin, by different churches or teachers. But God has called us to each use our gifts for the building up of the church and other saints in their walk with The Lord. The work of Christ in preparing his bride the church is not yet finished.

Yet there is hope in this picture of the fullness of unity and love and knowledge in the church. Christ has begun this work and he has called us to join him. We can trust he will finish the work he began. God I pray for this work that you would be at work in me and InterVarsity through me as a teacher and pastor and evangelist. God I pray you would be at work in my churches and young adults group and small group. Work through us. I pray that we would work towards that fullness. I pray that we would humble ourselves to be part of your body Christ to humble ourselves to work with others.
Amen

Ephesians 3 Powerful prayer for our faith

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
(Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV)

This is the kind of prayer I want to pray for the students I lead, for people around me at home and at church and also for myself. Though I am following God there is so much more God would have for me in my faith and life for God!

I truly want the Spirit to dwell in me in power that is transforming me and ministering to others with power.

God I ask for understanding and appreciation for the unmeasurable immensity of the love of God to me and to all of us in Christ.

God I believe your Spirit and Love and a understanding from you can fill us completely so that we live righteously and faithfully fully joyful and satisfied in this life all to Gods glory.

And yet in our sin we choose so much less than the best God has for us. I am easily drawn to the fleeting pleasures of sin and lose sight of Jesus and his immeasurable worth in my life. I am sorry God. I beg forgiveness. I ask you to be in me and change me.

And yet I have hope because God you can and are am doing immeasurably more than I ask or even know to ask for. And so I praise you! I can hoe and trust in you because your good and plans are so far beyond me and my weakness. All glory to you Christ and not to us for the small things we do right every once in a while! Only Christ in us by the Spirit can do any good! So thank you God for letting us be a part of your work, but all glory to you!
Amen

Ephesians 3:20-21 Immeasurably more than we ask

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20, 21 NIV)

That is amazing to realize that Christ is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or can even imagine! Wow God you are so big and in control. Sometimes I don't even feel like you hear or answer my prayers. Sometimes I doubt you and your power God. But actually you often bless the prayers I ask that bring about real heart change for good in me. Yet you have the power. Far beyond we can even ask or imagine you have authority and power.

That is the Power that is at work in us. And that is how the is hope despite how sinful and weak I am. God is in me and at work to redeem me.
All glory to you Lord.

Please help me trust and hope in you God. Help me believe you have the power and authority but also the wisdom to use it for good and not my selfish desires or small understanding of the spiritual realities.
Be at work in me Lord. Humble me and transform me!
Amen

Psalm 34 Taste and see The Lord is good and mighty to save

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:4, 7-10, 17-19 NIV)

Let us seek The Lord and taste and see that The Lord is good. When we are afraid and in need and when we are broken hearted let us seek The Lord and cry out to him. For he is close to those who are humble and those who seek to be righteous.

The angel of The Lord encamped around those who fear him. Just as Elisha saw the armies of chariots of The Lord surrounding him let us see your great army protecting us. Help us to trust in you:

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
(2 Kings 6:15-17 NIV)

But I also pray we would trust in you God and not always need to see. God like last night I felt overwhelmed and hopeless but I simply needed to turn my eyes to you and to the hope I have in you. I needed to remember you are far bigger than my circumstances. I needed to remember your sovereignty and purpose and great love and mercy!

God I am so blessed. I do have some troubles but you deliver me from them all! Thank you Lord. Let us fear him and remember he is the only one with power worth fearing. Let us seek him and his righteousness through Christ and the Spirit not by our own strength. Let us trust in his provision. In all circumstances and eternally you will provide.
Let us daily taste and see that The Lord is good! Blessed are we who have been redeemed and saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!
Amen

Ephesians 3 Mysterious Riches in Christ

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
(Ephesians 3:8-12 NIV)

This is what I gave my life and career to: the fact that the boundless riches of Christ are worth everything and that I want others to know Christ and have this new life and hope. But sometimes I struggle to believe it myself. I was meditating on this today asking myself if I really believed that I was fulfilled and that I thought Christ was worth it all. Mostly I would say yes. But it is also hard to compare since I it has been a few years since I really came to faith. It is also hard when the pleasures of the world seem so tempting. I know they are fleeting but it seems like such a simpler and more instantly gratifying life. Which I suppose it is.

God would you remind me of the surpassing value of knowing Christ and him crucified in bringing me new life here and now and eternally. Would you remind me of the greater and deeper fulfilling joy of following you. Remind me of the consequences and lack of fulfillment in the way of the world and sin.

Lord how amazing it is that you call us the church to reveal your plan in Christ to reconcile all people even to the heavenly realms and rulers. I don't even have a clue what that means but I am amazed you let us be a part of this heavenly work! Thank you God

God in my joy in my sorrow in my loneliness in my lack of hope in my sin I want to approach you with boldness trusting in Christ that you receive me as your son. Thank you God for welcoming me into your family and your heavenly glory and works!
All glory and praise and honor be to our God!
Amen

Ephesians 3 Paul's call and sacrifice for Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:1, 7-9, 13 ESV)

God thank you for this incredible mystery and amazing work of reconciliation of both gentile and Jew to you in Christ. My ancestors were once far off and had no hope or promise from you God. But in Christ you brought hope to all people's. both gentile and Jew could be saved and inherit eternal life through Christ's in us life to all who believe.

God I thank you for the calling you gave to Paul to the Gentiles. God we would not know Christ and this hope we had in him without you calling and sending people like Paul to preach the gospel in new places to a group of people.

Lord just as you called Paul to the Gentiles I believe you are calling me and InterVarsity to the college campus to preach the gospel to college students of every background, culture religion, and ethnicity.

Paul suffered greatly for his people. And he also interceded on behalf of the Gentiles and the Jews. God I pray you use this journey to give me faith and strength to intercede and suffer for the sake of the gospel being known among college students.

I myself was once far off and following idols made by human hands. I was making excuses and living in ignorance of you God. Yet by your grace you called me to you. Use all of me-my past and my hurt to preach the gospel and the incredible power and mystery of your gospel!

Lord I confess my fear and my weakness that holds me back from fully declaring the truth of your gospel. God my heart breaks for students who are apathetic to the gospel, my heart breaks for students who know the inexpressible riches of your gospel and who have fallen at the cross and yet let the distractions of school and work and relationships separate them from you. Lord speak through me and convict hearts, turn hearts to you.
Lord let it all be for you glory, I am weak and prideful but humble me and use me, I am willing.
Amen

Ephesians 2 We are the house of God

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
(Ephesians 2:18-22 ESV)

We are being built into the household of God, the holy temple for God and his Spirit. This happens together as the body of Christ Jesus' followers. But it also happens individually as the Holy Spirit baptized us and makes its home in us.

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV)

God I feel temptations of the flesh and desires, but I want to turn my life and my body and my sin over to you. I want to glorify you in all things. My body and life is a holy temple for your spirit and I want to honor that. It is even more than just actions it is also in my thoughts and hearts that I am sinful and need cleansing:

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
(Matthew 5:27-30 ESV)

So Lord protect my heart and mind and body. God remind me of the spiritual reality of sin leading to death. Lord remind me that my new life and hope in Christ was bought at a price. It am not my own. I want to live to you Lord! Thank you God for the ways you have protected me from sin and temptations even beyond my self control or understanding. Lord help me to set my eyes on you.
Amen

Psalm 33 the Sovereign Creator Lord

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;

he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

the plans of his heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
(Psalm 33:6-12 ESV)

The Lord is the mighty creator of heavens and earth. He is sovereign and in control. He lets us choose our way often but he remains at the helm directing the world according to his will. For we think we are in control yet his plans are the only plans that are proven to be true.

And so in the face of our awesome God we are humbled and utterly dependent on God. But we are blessed because he is gracious and generous! Blessed are we! Remind me Lord of both your sovereignty and you great love.
Amen

Ephesians 2 United in Christ by his blood

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
(Ephesians 2:11-16, 18, 19 ESV)

Again we are reminded that before Christ we were alienated from God and without hope.But we have been bought with a great price: the precious blood of Christ.

We were in the world and of the world and at war with God as children of flesh and wrath. But God has made peace through the cross and has reconciled us to him. Imagine a war between America and another nation in which we took out our anger on a willing hero who perhaps married the son or daughter of the "enemy" who began one nation and one people for all who appreciated that sacrifice.

Yet there are those who would not accept Christ and are still of the world and at war with God. But God has all authority and his power and kingdom is so great that God allows the other nations and peoples to persist and giving time for many people of all nations to turn to God.

For us who receive Christ we are united beyond ethnicity or language or history. God is now building us together as the church the body of Christ the household of God. This is by the work of the Holy Spirit not by our own will power or plans.

Lord I thank you for this new hope and vision of the unified body of Christ of all peoples and nations. Move by your power and Spirit in us to do your work to build your house together in us as a community of believers. Everyday remind me of the terrible cost of my life and salvation and our communal hope. Remind me and convict me that Jesus Christ's blood was the price and that God chose us not by our merit but by his great love.
Amen

Psalm 33 Hope in the Lord's unfailing Love

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:18-20, 22 NIV)

The truth is that the Lord is our only hope and the only one in control of this world and the only one who can save us. We often put our hope in things that cannot save us. We hope in our country, freedom, equality, democracy, technology, wealth, family, success, relationships to save us. Even if we don't hope they save us we put them as more important than God and more important than our eternal salvation. As the psalmist says:

No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
(Psalm 33:16, 17 NIV)

God humble us as people and as a society to realize we are not in control and our only hope is in you and your unfailing love that you would choose to save us. And you say you are willing if we would turn and repent and believe you and fear you and follow Jesus.
God let your unfailing love be upon us and help us to see your love and your authority in all circumstances even as we wait upon you and live in faith here and now.
Amen

Ephesians 2 Death to Life right now!

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
—it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
(Ephesians 2:1, 5, 6 NIV)

We were literally dead, our life of sin was a living death. We were without hope. All was dark and broken.

Yet we have died and now we are alive! As we received Jesus we we were baptized into his death and resurrection. So we are alive as Christ is alive having risen from the grave victorious as we celebrated at Easter.

Yet this goes beyond temporal life in this world. This is spiritual life and death. Before Christ in us we were dead physically and spiritually. Now we are alive physically and spiritually! Though heaven is not yet fully here when Christ came he began to make things new and his kingdom began to break into the world. As Jesus sent his followers in Luke 9 and 10 to say the kingdom of God is near so we the church continue to bring pieces of heaven and the kingdom here and now around us. We are living pieces of heaven on our eternal trajectory now. We don't need to wait until heaven. We are bringing heaven even now!

Let us live abundantly and fully as citizens of heaven here and now in the world! Christ thank you for this life. Help me to live it abundantly and to bring your kingdom here and now around me!
He has risen and so have we, lets live!
Amen

Psalm 32 Sins, blessed forgiveness, confession

Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long. For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord."
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them. You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
(Psalm 32:1-7 NIV)

Jesus has already paid the price of our sin and set things right with us and God. God has already forgiven us if we would but acknowledge our sin and repent by confession and turning to God.

But we are afraid of our sin and our God. We hide our sin and we are afraid of the painful work of healing. But God is patient. Lord convict my heart of my sin and give me faith to confess and turn to you! Guide me to ask others for help and to fight sin to the point of shedding blood holding to my hope in you as so much better than the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Amen

The war against sin

God guides in his Word the bible in many different ways to wage the war against sin: sometimes we run, sometimes we shed blood, sometimes we endure, and yet we can victorious in Christ by the Spirit in us.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

Yet we must choose to look for the escape and to abandon all pride and set our eyes on Jesus to flee by the route God has provided. He will not make us run, for he allows us to be tempted and to grow in character through mistakes and victories.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(Hebrews 12:4 NIV)

It is a war that we must be willing to fight and shed blood to win. Our victory over sin is only through Christ with great anguish and great reward.

Yet there is most certainly hope.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV)

Praise God because we can victorious!

Hebrews 11 fleeting pleasures of Sin

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
(Hebrews 11:24-26 NIV)

God even this very night I have felt tempted to sin in many ways in my heart and in my actions. Each day and each moment in every temptation I want to give it over to you. I want to choose to fight sin and fight for my life and for you God holding to your promise and your guidance of what is pure and holy and satisfying and good.

God remind me every day and in every temptation that the pleasures of sin are fleeting and pathetic compared to the lasting and satisfying pleasures of righteousness in Christ.

God teach me to take to heart the reality of sin like this example in proverbs that sin quickly leads to choosing out of God and death:

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words, Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.

(Proverbs 2:16, 18, 19 NIV)

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
(James 1:14, 15 NIV)

In Christ there is forgiveness. But when inset my heart and hopes on the fleeting pleasures of sin the path to death is steep and slippery and hard to climb back up. God can certainly do it, but it is far better to flee from sin urgently now and hold to the hope of God and heaven than to give in to the momentary pleasures of sin.

God give me a great awareness of sin and death in contrast to truth and love and life and hope and heaven and your presence God. I want to flee from sin, but I need your help. I also know I must choose it every day, I can not half heatedly fight.

If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29, 30 NIV)

God I literally want to cut sin out of my heart and life. God I want to run from sin! It will be painful and awkward and less instant gratification. But I choose you and I choose heaven. Holy Spirit live in me and cast out the evil one, strengthen me as I face temptations.
Amen

Ephesians 2: saved by grace- through faith

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV)

This is the message of the Cross the gospel. That we could not and never could save our selves. For there is nothing we could do to be righteous or good. We could never earn love or forgiveness or salvation. We deserve nothing!

And yet out of the riches of Gods mercy and abundant grace upon grace Jesus gave up everything he had in order to give those spiritual blessings he had to us who did not deserve.

This is what we so often argue about:
Yet here the order is quite clear:
We are saved only by Gods grace
The means by which we accept that grace given as a gift is through faith
And out of that new life we receive we live for the good works that Christ created us to do.

Our faith and works do not earn grace. Our works are the way we live. We could never earn Gods love or our salvation by works or faith. And he grace is already given because of what Jesus did.

Thank you and thank you again!
All praise and glory be to you!
I humbly want to receive and enjoy this great gift!
Amen

Psalm 31: trust as you wait upon The Lord

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame;

in your righteousness deliver me!

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, "You are my God."

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

all you who wait for the Lord!
(Psalm 31:1, 5, 14, 24 ESV)

David cries out in great distress again and again. Often he feels God has abandoned him: he feels his situation is hopeless. Yet he sits in the tension of despair and yet does not fully lose sight of God who is his hope and savior and fortress.

For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my iniquity,

and my bones waste away.

Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,

especially to my neighbors,

and an object of dread to my acquaintances;

those who see me in the street flee from me.

I have been forgotten like one who is dead;

I have become like a broken vessel.

For I hear the whispering of many—

terror on every side!—

as they scheme together against me,

as they plot to take my life.

I had said in my alarm,

"I am cut off from your sight."

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy

when I cried to you for help.
(Psalm 31:10-13, 22 ESV)

Lord help me as I wait upon you. Give me strength and courage. Give me endurance and hope! Let me see you first and not see my life by my circumstances. For you are bigger than me and far bigger than my circumstances. Lord I am sorry for my worries and my small faith. Lord I believe but help my unbelief.
Amen

Ephesians 2: to understand Gods grace we must understand we are children of wrath

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
(Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)

Some of my favorite bible verse follow this in Ephesians about how we are saved by grace through faith. Yet to fully understand, appreciate and accept our salvation and the immeasurable heights of Gods grace we must first accept we are children of wrath.

This is hard for me to accept because I don't like hearing I am truly evil by nature and the only thing I deserve Iis death and wrath. I like to think I am a good person. But to believe Jesus is also to believe we are all utterly sinful. For even Jesus said there is no one good but God alone. We are all sinners and that defined us in life and eternity without Christ.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 ESV)

Our only hope is in Christ who is our righteousness. He is the one who is both he judge and just and yet also the justifier. He is our judge who condemns sin and yet takes the place at the gallows for us when we are sentenced to death.

But even this week as I struggle with processing a break up with a girlfriend I see the sin in my heart. Sometimes I resist and sometimes I give in. But that is my very nature that I follow the way of the world and the devil. I often follow the desires and passions of my heart and body and mind.

Yet despite all this there is hope because through Christ I am forgiven. He is my righteousness and the Spirit of Christ is at work in me even now. And so I say come Holy Spirit convict me of sin and change my heart. As I try to walk faithfully and righteously empower me to do so by Christ and not by anything in my power. And let all the praise be to you God!

As I grow in understanding of the spiritual reality of my sin, death and wrath please Lord grow my understanding and appreciation for your grace upon grace that you have saved me and forgiven me! Give me faith! Lord I believe, help my unbelief!
Amen

Ephesians 1 God has more for Christians

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things 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 1:15-23 ESV)

Though I am a Christian, though I am a minister of Gods Word my understanding and hope in God is so small compared to the fullness he has for me. God I want to know more the hope you have called me to in Christ Jesus! Fill me with your Spirit. Give me a new heat and a new understanding. Set my heart on things that last the glorious inheritance we have through Christ. Grow my awe and gratitude for the immeasurable greatness of your work in raising Jesus victorious from the grace to lord of all seated at your right hand father. Even in this world of darkness help me to see the spiritual reality that Jesus is absolutely and totally in all authority and power and control. He is not weak, he is not needy, we are not deserving and we cannot reject Christ. For every knee will bow and recognize Christ as Lord and savior. God will get the glory! Yet we who have believed and been born again we will live again, while others will get what they choose to be apart from God. I am thankful that I can be with you and in your family and doing your works as part of the church your body the people of God as you direct us.

I pray this over my students and church friends. Though we are Christians God has so much more for us. God continue to reveal more and give us a greater hope in you and heaven and live into that hope which is our only lasting hope!
Amen

Ephesians 1 Our heavenly inheritance through Christ

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
(Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV)

Even more blessings God showers us with through Christ. Because in him is our only hope and our only lasting port property and wealth - a home he has saved for us in heaven.
In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2, 3 ESV)

For nothing is lasting in this world not wealth, human knowledge, influence, not family, not a marriage not property or the place we call home. Our home is in heaven. Our only hope is in heaven. The heroes of faith had this in common in realizing that this world is not their home and not where heir hope was. Instead they trusted God for an eternal
Home with God.

As it says in Hebrews 11
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
(Hebrews 11:8, 13-16 ESV)

God help me set my hope not in this world in things that do not last or in circumstances in this life. God help me see the lasting and completely satisfying joy of living in heaven eternally in your presence God.
Just as David prayed in his psalm 84:

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84:10 ESV)

God change my heart because I know I seek after the wrong things. Things that are of this world and do not last.
Set my heart on heavenly things. Let me rejoice in the eternal blessings and an eternal inheritance in your house in your presence.
Amen

Ephesians 1 Spiritual Blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places,

even as he chose us in him
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him.

In love he predestined us
for adoption as sons
through Jesus Christ,

according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace,
with which he has blessed us in
the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,

according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us,

in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV)

Wow that is the abundance and grace upon grace and showering of love in spiritual blessings that are present now and in eternity in life and in heaven. These are the blessings God has given us in Jesus Christ. We are blessed with every single spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Even just reading this list is overwhelming and humbling to me of how much God has given me that is meaningful and lasting. Yet I spend far too much of my time complaining or demanding things that mostly don't last: success, relationships, time, health.

God direct me to change my heart and seek after things that last and to rejoice in the spiritual blessings you have given me. God please guide me to pray for things that are pleasing to you and lasting. Thank you so much God for everything I receive through all you have done for me and who you are Christ! Praise and glory be to our God and Christ who is seated at your right hand God!
Amen

Ephesians 4 Our new self in Christ

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:20-24 ESV)

What does it look like to live in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Jesus set the greatest example. Some practical applications are:

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV)

God I can only do these things by your power! But it also takes effort and intentionality on my part. God I pray you would put a new passion and am desire to put on your likeness in Christ and by the Spirit to love others in truth and love. Not in fear and being pushovers but also speaking the truth in love.

God you say get angry but do not sin. Lord you know me better than I know myself. I wish I didn't get angry or have negative emotions but I have emotions. You made me that way God so my emotions must be good and helpful. They may be difficult also but that grows my character. I pray God you would teach me to be aware of and process my emotions in healthy ways that I would feel all my emotions and not sin.
Amen