Heavenly Father, I praise You for this new day and for old friends. I praise You for a church I can go to and feel at home. I praise You for giving me a wife who I can talk to, and walk life with. I praise You for a garden that has been giving us food most of this summer. I praise You for my job that helps me take care of my family.
Holy Spirit help me to follow the wisdom Paul wrote to the Ephesians when he said, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” [Ephesians 4:2-7] I am not a gentle person by the personality I have, so help me to learn through the love and grace of Jesus to become gentle. Humility is something I am learning, and it has been a bitter lesson at times. I am improving on bearing with others in love, and attempting to help support the unity of the Spirit, especially with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Holy Spirit, help me to: “Follow God’s example, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Let no one deceive me with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. So, I need to avoid being partners with them.” [Ephesians 5:1&2, 6&7]
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” [Ephesians 6:10-12] Let this always be so in my life. Amengrace