Ephesus, view from the Marble Road Photo by Radomil 21:31, 30 November 2005
Good morning, beloved,
I have allowed the cares of this world to overwhelm me. I have been working on my own strength so much of the time. Last night, it finally dawned on me. Oh, how I hate that I have been suffocating under the weights of this world. I have this image in my mind this morning of swimming under water and waiting to come up for air until the last second. As I burst forth from the water, I breath in deeply and quickly. This morning, I am breathing deeply. I begin my day with thanksgiving.
281. I’m so thankful for Daniel, so thankful he talks to me, asks me to play games, still asks for hugs, still.
282. I’m thankful for football for Noah. He is coming alive with the discipline.
283. I’m thankful for Luke and his amazing ability to make people laugh. Me too.
284. I’m thankful for Ella, how she cares for her two dolls, brushing their hair, listening to books, peacemaker.
As I try to take apart each care and concern, I am vastly aware of my inadequacies to stand alone. We were never meant to walk alone. It’s interesting. I didn’t even realize it until I looked back with the Lord at the telltale signs. Frustration mounts. Anger. You know what? I’m tired of these responses. I feel like my kids when they tell me that an undesirable action will never happen again. I want perfection in me! Lies, lies, lies.
17 If the Lord had not helped me,
I would have ·died in a minute [L quickly dwelled in silence].
18 I said, “·I am about to fall [L My feet totter],”
but, Lord, your ·love [loyalty] ·kept me safe [steadied/supported me].
19 ·I was very worried [L In my many disquieting thoughts in my insides],
but you comforted me and ·made me happy [cheered me up]. Psalm 94 EXB
The loyalty of His love, His comfort, His help…only can God love me like that, always. If not? I would have quickly dwelled in silence.
16 I ·have not stopped [never cease] giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers, 17 asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you ·a spirit of wisdom[or spiritual wisdom; or the Spirit of wisdom] and revelation so that you will know him better. 18 I pray also that ·you will have greater understanding in your heart [L the eyes of your heart may be enlightened] so you will ·know [comprehend] the hope to which he has called us and that you will know ·how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised [the riches of his glorious inheritance for; or the glorious wealth of an inheritance that God possesses in] ·his holy people [T the saints].19 And you will know that God’s power is ·very [exceedingly; overwhelmingly] great for us who believe. That power ·is the same as [or was demonstrated in] the great strength. Ephesians 1 EXB
I ·have not stopped [never cease] giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers…
I wonder if the Ephesians ever frustrated Paul. Did he ever feel like banging his head against a wall? It’s hard to bang your head against a wall while giving thanks. It is hard to stay frustrated when in your prayers you are always praying. The ones who give you grief? Pray. The ones who just get you? Pray. Give thanks. Give thanks for God’s plan in our lives. Plan that includes people. Just sayin’.
…asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you ·a spirit of wisdom[or spiritual wisdom; or the Spirit of wisdom] and revelation so that you will know him better.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our access to God. He is our glorious Father. To those who have father wounds, He is your glorious Father. To those who don’t think God could ever forgive them or love them, the Lord Jesus Christ made a way. To those who have lost their way, to those who need to come up for air, there is a way. A way back home.
Paul cries out to the Lord praying that we would be given a spirit of wisdom. We are wise about spiritual, not in our own strength, but only through the gift of the Holy Spirit. I cannot look at my life and pretend to understand all He is doing. My attempts at understanding, my cries for help so often come from a very focused look at my circumstances.
That, my friends, is wisdom talking. Our view of our life, our trials, our worries, even our joys must be filtered through the lens of trusting Him.
I pray also that ·you will have greater understanding in your heart [L the eyes of your heart may be enlightened] so you will ·know [comprehend] the hope to which he has called us…
Lord, I have cried out for understanding. I have cried out for wisdom. Save us, Lord! Rather, I wonder if my prayer needs to switch. Lord, help me to understand, to comprehend the hope! Understand in greater detail the hope
(7) Eph 1:18, “the hope of His (God’s) calling,” i.e., the prospect before those who respond to His call in the Gospel; Greek Lexicon blb.org
Have you responded to His call? His call found in Jesus?
…that you will know ·how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised [the riches of his glorious inheritance for; or the glorious wealth of an inheritance that God possesses in] ·his holy people [T the saints].
His blessings..rich and glorious..our inheritance…does it ever seem like those blessings seem too far away? They are not. They are so close, they are a breath away. And we cannot even imagine it all, it is too great a mystery. So, in the midst of the strain, in the midst of the concern, what if our focus trains on the cry to know, to understand deep in our hearts the blessing.
And you will know that God’s power is ·very [exceedingly; overwhelmingly] great for us who believe. That power ·is the same as [or was demonstrated in] the great strength…
Lord, I want to know God’s power. Your exceedingly, overwhelmingly will is very great. You can handle all that concerns me today. You can overcome my weakness. To trust in You, to find my hope in You, I cling to You.
Ephesus, theater Photo by Rita1234
Life is a breath. Looking at these pictures of the ruins of Ephesus reminds me. Today is a gift. It was what I have been given. I dedicate this day to You.
Pray on. Pray on.
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