Day 8 - Change Your Life!

Day 8 - Change Your Life! He Did It All!





Pray, Read the book of Ephesians, Give Thanks!





Prayer for Spiritual Strength

3:14 For this reason I bow my
knees before the Father,

15 from whom every family in
heaven and on earth is named,

16 that according to the riches of
his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in
your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may have strength to comprehend
with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ
that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God.

20 Now to him who is able to do
far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at
work within us,

21 to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.

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STUDY QUESTIONS:





1. What power is in you? How do you know?





2. How are we named? How powerful is that name?





3. Why does Paul bow? Do you get on your knees? Would you try it tonight?





4. Why do we need to be rooted and grounded in love?





5. How long will God get the glory?





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Isn't it amazing the wonderful gift and mystery of God that has been revealed to us? I tremble with joy and fear when I try to imaging the infinite greatness and perfection of our Redeemer. To know that Paul's and the early church's prayers were sent to heaven for us, even before we were formed. That we are called to unity, to be knitted and fit together with all saints into Christ's Bride is overwhelming.



I have very sensitive skin, so years I began ago examining myself in a mirror to see if there were growths, moles, freckles, etc. on all my skin. After all these years I know the wrinkles, the moles, the bumps, bruises and imperfections that are my body. I have learned to accept and even love those parts of my body, it is what makes me ME! And although there is wordly pressure for "perfection" and "preservation (just like jelly)" of our bodies, skin and face--I am proud of what God made.



When I think about the energy that people expend on whining about themselves and hating what God gave them--I pray and have mercy because I was one of those who couldn't see past my outer 'ugliness' to my inner man (and I still struggle at times but now I know how to pray).

I pray that I continue to learn how to love and accept and take care of that which God fearfully and wonderfully made and entrusted to only me--that is ME! Okay, what does this have to do with Christ's Bride and power and His riches in grace?



We read in Ephesians chapter one that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings and seated us in the heavenlies. In chapter two He let us know that we are His workmanship; He provided us with grace to be called son's of God and to partake in the inheritance of our King--as brothers and sisters of Christ's inheritance.

Now, we see in chapter three that we are meant to be unified "into one race" with no division among us. We all have gifts, we all are parts of the whole body. Through His power, His grace, He gave us all grace and we must use our faith in Christ to receive it. So if we ruminate and wax melancholy on the imperfect workmanship that is us, if we try to "fix" that which He formed before the foundation of the world--aren't we changing how the Bride will be presented to Messiah?



What might happen if we change the gift of ourselves so much to the world's standards that we no longer 'fit' in the heavenly church body? What if we disappear under the weight of gravity in this world and we aren't ready when Christ comes for us? What if we misuse, abuse, neglect, and ignore the gifts He gave us and made us so we can share the mystery of Christ with the world? We don't have to fall prey to the wickedness of the world system, Beloved.



He has all power, it belongs to Him, and He gave us that POWER to work in us and through us to sanctify, edify, lift-up and be filled with His Joy! The Holy Spirit dwells in our mortal bodies and changes the inner man to make us into perfection for the Bridegroom. We must do our part. Do not be conformed to this world, but rather spend your time and energy being transformed by the righteous, true and wonderful Word of God.

That is the power, the strength with which we should be moved to action. The greatest of the commandments are to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, body, soul and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Do you love yourself? If you believe He formed you, He perfected you, He bestowed His riches upon you---you should love who you are: FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made in His image! Hallelujah-whew, had a moment there I am leaping for joy and shouting His name. He is worthy to be praised! God Bless you, beautiful sister and brother--in Jesus' Mighty Name, Sister Lisa.

Always in Unity of the Spirit!