Shalom,
Today I want to share two portions of Scripture from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in Ephesians 1! First verses 4-9:
4 Even
as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in
Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated
and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above
reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us,
planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through
Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased
Him and was His kind intent]— 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the
commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely
bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance
and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses
(shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the
generosity of His gracious favor, 8 Which He lavished upon us in every
kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), 9 Making
known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose).
[And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention)
which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him,
Our God LOVES us with a never ending LOVE! And HE has already blessed US abundantly! Just BELIEVE and RECEIVE! JESUS! And now I have a prayer for you from verses 17-23:
17 [For
I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that
He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries
and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, 18 By having the
eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand
the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance
in the saints (His set-apart ones), 19 And [so that you can know and
understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing
greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in
the working of His mighty strength, 20 Which He exerted in Christ when He
raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly
[places], 21 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and
every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in
this age and in this world, but also in the age and the
world which are to come. 22 And He has put all things under His feet and
has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship
exercised throughout the church], 23 Which is His body, the fullness of
Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who
makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
AMEN! THIS is prayer acoording to God's WORD! Then we KNOW that He hears us and we HAVE those things that we desired of Him! Never give up! Here is Hillsong a favorite Christmas song called: "Born is the King!":
Shalom in Him!