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Post by nchrist on Oct 10, 2009 12:54:12 GMT -6
The Greatness of GodPassage Ephesians 1:17-20Prayer Dear Father, God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory. Give me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation so that I may truly know the Savior. Let the eyes of my heart light up with comprehension, that I may know how vast is the hope to which you have called me! May I come to know how truly boundless are the riches of your glorious inheritance that you have in us, your special people. May I understand to its depth how immeasurable is the greatness of your power in us who have put our trust in you. My Father, I have put my trust in you. I am one of your special people! Lift up your Son in my heart! Work powerfully in my life!In the name of Jesus I come. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 12, 2009 9:37:50 GMT -6
The Power of GodPassage Ephesians 1:22-23Prayer Dear Father, God of our Lord Jesus Help me to directly experience the power of what you did when you made Christ head over all things for the congregation of your people, the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. My Father, I am part of that body, your church. How I thank you for that! I bless your holy name always! Never let me take it for granted, never let me neglect it! Thank you, Father, thank you, thank you! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 12, 2009 9:38:47 GMT -6
The Glory of GodPassage Ephesians 1:20-22Prayer Dear Father, God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory. Help me grasp something of your glory as I compare my experience to the great power which you displayed when you raised Christ from the dead. You made him sit down at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above every rule and authority and power and dominion. Help me understand even more as I contemplate the fact that you lifted Jesus' name above every other name that is named, not only in this age but in the age to come, and that you put all things under his feet. In the name of this magnificent Savior. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 13, 2009 19:17:17 GMT -6
Dead in SinsPassage Ephesians 2:1-3Prayer Dear Father, King of the Ages, Thank you for the new life you have infused into my being. I once was dead because of the misdeeds and sins in which I walked, following the course of this world, following the commander-in-chief of evil, the spirit that now energizes all who disobey. Among these lost people - and as a lost person - I once lived in the passions of my flesh. I followed the desires of my body and the passing whims of my mind. I was by nature a doer of evil doomed to destruction, like the rest of mankind. But you were rich in mercy! Because of your great love with which you loved me - even when I was dead through my misdeeds - you made me alive together with Christ! It is by your undeserved kindness that I am saved! In the name of Jesus and by his authority I boldly ask you to make of us the completely holy people that you intend as your inheritance. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 14, 2009 16:34:46 GMT -6
Alive in ChristPassage Ephesians 2:4-5Prayer Dear Father, ruler of heaven and earth, When you raised up Christ, you raised me out of my dead state as well. You set me on a throne of honor with Christ in the heavenly places. What you did showed the immeasurable riches of your grace even to me - just as you showed your kindness to those called first - through Christ! Thank you for being so very, very gracious to me! Salvation by grace just by trusting in you! In the name of Jesus and by his authority I boldly ask you to make of us the completely holy people that you intend as your inheritance. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 16, 2009 2:00:42 GMT -6
No More DivisionPassage Ephesians 2:14-16Prayer Dear Father, reconciler of humanity, Thank you for sending Jesus to break down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and non-Jew. By the way he lived and the way he died - in his flesh - he rendered ineffective the law of commandments given as "decrees." He lived a life unto you that went beyond obeying commands. He yielded himself in truly loving obedience from the heart. Thank you that he did this to create in himself one new man, one new humanity instead of the two, one Jewish and one not Jewish.Thank you for the peace and reconciliation we both have in you in his one body offered on the cross to bring our enmity to an end. In the name of Jesus, our Peace. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 16, 2009 2:01:47 GMT -6
The Gift of BeliefPassage Ephesians 2:8-10Prayer Dear Father, perfecter of humanity, My God, even my believing was not something I was clever enough to do. It was your gift to me, not from my effort, lest I should boast of it. In truth I am your workmanship, your creation, your starting and your finishing. You made me over in Christ Jesus so that I could perform the good works which you prepared beforehand for me to do, that I might walk in them. Thank you, my awesome God and loving Father, for bringing me into sweet fellowship with you, your Son, your Spirit, and your people! Hallelujah! I love you. In the name of Jesus and by his authority I boldly ask you to make of us the completely holy people that you intend as your inheritance. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 17, 2009 9:20:55 GMT -6
No Longer StrangersPassage Ephesians 2:17-22Prayer Dear Father, friend of the far and the near, I am so thankful that Christ came and preached peace to those who were far off and to those who were near, so that we both can have access to you in the one Spirit, that we can enjoy peace together. It is so wonderful that we who are not Jews no longer have to be strangers and foreigners. How good of you, Father, that we now can be citizens with the saints, that we can be members of your household, Christ's church. What a wonderful church! You built it on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined and grows together into a holy temple in the Lord. Thank you that in him even I personally can be built into it in order to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 18, 2009 15:04:37 GMT -6
Magnificent ServicePassage Ephesians 3:1-8Prayer Dear Father, Thank you for the great apostle Paul and for his life of magnificent service. I know that it was through your graciousness that he was called. It demonstrated the working of your great power to turn a human life from rebellion to obedience. Thank you for such a man, who could count himself as the very least of all your people. Thank you for such humility. He boasted not of himself but of you! My Father, let me imitate him completely in this! Thank you that through him, at least at first, the unsearchable riches of Christ were proclaimed, to make all men see what was the plan of the secret which you had kept hidden for ages in yourself, the God who created all things. In the name of Jesus I give you thanks and make these requests. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 20, 2009 16:43:05 GMT -6
[/size][/color][/center] Spreading the Good NewsPassage Ephesians 3:1-13Prayer Dear Father, Thank you for all the prayers Paul prayed for the Christians whom he brought to you in his day and for those who came to you through their preaching. Thank you for the impact that Paul has had on so many great churchmen through the ages. Thank you for the pure waters that I, even I, have drunk from the well of his teaching. Thank you, Father, for making provision to spread the Good News about Jesus over the whole earth, to every nation and language, that we might enter your kingdom. Thank you for allowing me to enter. I love you, Lord. In the name of Jesus I give you thanks and make these requests. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 20, 2009 16:45:30 GMT -6
Wisdom Made KnownPassage Ephesians 3:9-12Prayer Dear Father, who gives wisdom so generously, How thankful I am that the congregation of your people has become the channel through which your multi-faceted and many-splendored wisdom will be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. It thrills me to know that it was your purpose eternally to realize this in Christ Jesus my Lord. Thank you that through him we have confident and bold access to you. Help me, help all of your people, not to lose heart over what we suffer and what our leaders suffer for us. Help us to see this as our glory! In the name of Jesus I give you thanks and make these requests. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 23, 2009 0:07:19 GMT -6
Love Surpasses KnowledgePassage Ephesians 3:20-21Prayer Dear Father, transcendent in knowledge and wisdom, Grant that I may know the love of Christ, a love which surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled with the fullness which is yours. Now to you, my God, who by the power at work within your people are able to do far more abundantly than all I can ask or even imagine - to you be glory in the congregation of your holy people and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. In the name of Jesus Christ I honor you and ask these blessings from your hand. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 23, 2009 0:08:27 GMT -6
Rooted and GroundedPassage Ephesians 3:14-19Prayer Dear Father, transcendent in power and fullness, I bow my knees before you, Father, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. According to the riches of your glory strengthen me with your might in my innermost being, that Christ may dwell in my heart through the trust I have in him. Root me and ground me in love so that I may have the power to comprehend - along with all your holy people - what is the breadth and length and height and depth of your goodness. In the name of Jesus Christ I honor you and ask these blessings from your hand. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:47:51 GMT -6
A Clean MouthPassage Ephesians 5:3-4Prayer Dear Father, Keep me from talking about or thinking about illicit sex and pornography and covetousness, since you require that your holy people avoid referring to these things. Keep me from filthy stories, silly or flippant talk, and any other kind of conversation not fitting for one who follows you. Instead, let my mouth be filled with - thanksgiving! In the name of Jesus I ask for the purity of mind and spirit that was in him. And I give you thanks. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:48:37 GMT -6
Imitating GodPassage Ephesians 4:29-5:2Prayer Dear Father, worthy of my love and obedience, Let nothing evil come out of my mouth - only what is good for building others up. Let whatever I say fit the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. Don't let me do anything that would grieve your Holy Spirit within me, by which I have been sealed for the day of redemption. Help me get rid of all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander, and especially anything malicious. Help me to be kind to others, tenderhearted, and forgiving, even as you have forgiven me in Christ. Father, I want to imitate you, as a loving child would imitate a father. And may I walk in love, even as Christ loved me and gave himself up for me, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you. In the name of Jesus who sacrificed himself for my sake. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:49:25 GMT -6
Good NeighborsPassage Ephesians 4:25-28Prayer Dear Father, worthy of my love and obedience, May the thought of deceit or falsehood never enter into my relations with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let all of us speak the truth with our neighbors, since we are members of each other. Don't let my anger turn into sin. May I never let the sun go down on my wrath. Don't let grudge-holding and unforgiveness on my part give the devil any opportunity. Help me never to covet anything that belongs to someone else, but rather to work with my mind and my hands to get the things needed by myself and others. In the name of Jesus who sacrificed himself for my sake. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:50:09 GMT -6
My Old Nature Put to DeathPassage Ephesians 4:22-24Prayer Dear Father, righteous and holy God, Enable me to put away completely my old human nature - the former lifestyle corrupted by deceitful desires. Help me to be renewed in the spirit of my mind, to put on a new nature, created in your likeness in true righteousness and holiness. Father, make me holy like Jesus, righteous with his righteousness! In the name of the holy Jesus I pray for true holiness within me. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:50:53 GMT -6
My New Nature Made AlivePassage Ephesians 4:17-21Prayer Dear Father, righteous and holy God, Help me never to be tempted to live as worldly people live: futile in their thinking - darkened in their understanding - alienated from you because of the ignorance within them - hard-hearted and calloused -given over to licentiousness - greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. I did not learn of a Christ like this! I learned of a righteous and holy Christ. Help me ever to aspire to live as your holy people live: clear and decisive in thought - illumined in their understanding - reconciled to you by knowing your Son - tender-hearted and supple - self-controlled - hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Help me to follow him just as I was taught in him - as the truth is in Jesus. In his precious name I pray. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:51:36 GMT -6
A More Perfect UnionPassage Ephesians 4:14-16Prayer Dear Father, Giver of life and growth, We bless you, Father, because what you want for each of us your children is that we may no longer remain immature children but become grown-up children, no longer tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of strange teachings, by the cunning of men with their crafty and deceitful schemes. Thank you, Father, rather for calling us to speak the truth in love and to grow up in every way in him who is the head, into Christ. Thank you for putting Christ into us and us into Christ so that the whole body, with each part working properly and joined and knit together by every connection with which it is supplied, makes bodily growth and builds itself up in love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Post by nchrist on Oct 31, 2009 11:52:24 GMT -6
Christ's GiftsPassage Ephesians 4:8-13Prayer Dear Father, giver of lasting gifts, Thank you for the gracious gifts bestowed by your Messiah on us when he descended into the depths for us and ascended into the heights to reign with you. He gave us, his church, lasting gifts - apostles and prophets, evangelists, and shepherd/teachers for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Thank you for these gifts given until we all attain the unity he intends for us: faithful loyalty to Jesus, and full knowledge of the Son of God himself - to mature manhood- so that we can attain to the measure of the full stature of Christ himself.In Jesus' name. Amen.
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