choices and changes

 Monday, August 29, 2022 (5:20 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! We get to have choices and make changes. Hmm. Ephesians 4:22.

(6:01 a.m.)

Mm, Blessed God,

How I thank You for the opportunity and privilege of sitting here. Reading and basking in Your Word. Various rephrasings of Your Truth and promises incite further desire to change.

Mm. Living as Children of Life (The Life Recovery Bible Ephesians 4:17-32). Truth. Guidance. Hope. Found right here.

Father, thank You for being such a good and gracious God. You lead, guide, indwell. And here the music starts.

♪Don’t you know It’s Time to Praise the Lord, In the sanctuary of His Holy Spirit. So set your mind on Him, And let your praise begin, And the glory of the Lord will fill this place♪ Why? Because we choose to change our focus!

♪He lives within the praises of His people, He loves to hear us call upon His name♪ Why? Because You love us. Thank You God.

Choosing GOD’S WORD Translation this morning, I begin at the title for Ephesians 4. Christ’s Gifts to the Church. How blessed we are to have such a kind and perfect Savior as this.

An invitation by the apostle Paul “to live the kind of life which proves that God has called you” (v.1) Being “humble and gentle in every way… patient with each other and lovingly accept each other” (2). These are huge choices Lord.

“Through the peace that ties you together, do your best to maintain the unity that the Spirit gives” (v.3). It’s not our power on which we are to depend. No. It comes from the Spirit. Thank You God.

Because of the Truth of Jesus’ teachings, we are “not to live any longer like other people in the world” (17a). With our minds “set on worthless things” (17b). No.

“You have certainly heard His message and have been taught His ways. The Truth is in Jesus. You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you. However, you were taught to have a new attitude” (21-23).

It is that new attitude that I want to exhibit this day Dear Lord. The one that gets rid of lies. Speaking Truth to each other (25). Being angry without sinning. Not going to bed angry (26). Not giving the devil any opportunity to work (27).

Working hard, not stealing (28). Not saying anything that would hurt another person. “Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you” (29).

Father, I ask You to enable me in making the choices and changes to fulfill the next three verses (30-32). “Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you. He has put His seal on you for the day you will be set free from the world of sin.

“Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ.”

Mm. Yes please Dearest God. Do all that only You are able. In. With. By. Through and for me. Use me as You know is best. I love, need and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(575 words ~ 7:02 a.m.)