Spiritual Pick Me Up

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

This is amazing! If you are ever depressed, worried, anxious or sad read these verses over and over again. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms! How awesome is that? Better yet, this decision was not one that was made on the spur of the moment. God didn't just sit around in heaven one day and decide to do this for us. He had this planned out before He even got started! PRAISE GOD! He had me on His mind back then! Even more encouraging is that He doesn't do this in a begrudging manner. He did because He wanted to and it brought Him great pleasure! We should at all times and in all ways praise God for His love for us. He is so rich in kindness and grace towards us. He didn't stop there He has included all wisdom and understanding for us as well.

James 1:5-8

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Ask for wisdom and he will give it to you, as long as you ask Him in faith. Everything with God revolves around faith. Not His faith in us, but our faith in Him and His Word. To be included in God's plan because of our faith in Christ is an awesome priviledge. To be an heir and receive our inheritance when God's plan is fulfilled is another great benefit of being in the Kingdom of the King of Kings.

When God makes a covenant He keeps His end of the covenant. He usually seals the deal with something we can have our faith in. In this case for the Gentiles who have accepted Jesus we get the Holy Spirit as our confirmation to His covenant with us. There is no greater assurance one can have that having the Holy Spirit to reveal all the truth of the Word to you, to lay out God's individual plan for your life and to help you walk out that plan. God has all the bases covered. The only way it doesn't succeed is if we make a choice not to follow those directions. Praise God for His plans for our lives. I thank God that no one else has the same plan that I do. I don't have to worry about what He is doing through someone else because that is not my plan. My plan is made for me and for the way that He created me. I am accountable to Him for how I carry out His plan for me and no one else is. Praise God!

Father I thank You that You cared enough about me to have me on Your mind before You even started creating the world. I thank You that Jesus was obedient to His plan for His life so that I can be an heir for Your plan for me. I praise You for who You are and what You mean to me. I thank You for choosing me and loving me so I could love You back. Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved