Empowered

Life Lessons Devotional Series, Tuesday April 25, 2023

Scripture: Eph. 1: ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Life Lesson: As we struggle daily in our faith, we need this reminder from Paul of the overwhelming and magnificent riches that we are heirs to, the undeniable hope we have every reason to profess, and the incomparably great power that is always available to us and is at work in us who truly believe!

– You may have heard the saying, “open your eyes” and understand the reference is to our understanding and perception of something. 

– We who believe are all beneficiaries of God’s tremendous promises! The promises, like the Gift of our salvation are all firm and true, yet in or weaknesses we sometimes struggle to truly believe that we have them and therefore we might fail to live in the knowledge of them.

– This is where prayer comes in.  Paul says that he, “pray[s] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

– Prayer unlocks the storehouse to God’s unfathomable blessings!  There is truth, hope and power available to all of us, yet we sometimes fail to appropriate these gifts.  The Doorway to these realities is found in and through Christ!  In fact, Jesus Christ is the Door!

– When we pray, we are endeavoring to knock on the Door.  If the door seems closed to us, we have these promises to trust in, Jer. 29: ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Matt. 7: ⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matt. 7: ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Psalm 37: ⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

– If all things have been placed under the authority of Jesus feet, then in Christ Jesus we who believe have been given supreme authority to live daily in victory!