Heavenly Father, I praise You for the morning and claim it for Your glory. I praise You for ordering up my steps and giving me the Holy Spirit to dispense wisdom on how to make right choices and walk the path that is intended for me.
Holy Spirit help me to comprehend and acknowledge what Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Let me understand that each of us is uniquely different so that we can be one body, unified, to serve God and bring His kingdom here on the earth until His return. We are to live, doing what we were created for so that we feel complete and full of Your Spirit. Teach me how to use my gifts, my talents, my ministry so that I help bring unity to my brothers and sisters. Help me to be one of many small lights that creates a larger beacon in this very dark world.
Let me strong and mighty in Your Power. Let me wear my armor correctly and smartly. Help me to stand against the schemes of the devil and all evil and sin. I understand that my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, 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]
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1Peter 5:6-11u