Ephesians 6:16-20

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16-20 

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Observations:
Whenever I open my mouth, I want to be fearless and efficient. Not just saying what is hard to say, but saying it in a way that reveals the truth and grace of Christ! Yes, please!

Application:
What flaming arrows is the evil one attacking me with? How can my faith shield me from them? Is it my past? Guilt? Worry? Is he telling me that I'm unhappy or lacking? Is he saying that I'm unloved? All those are untrue and void because of Jesus. Our faith shield needs to be held up. When we set it down we get hit.  All the armor we've put on is defensive except for the sword. The word of God is our weapon, our way of fighting back. When we know it, share it, speak it, sing it, read it, pursue it, and live it, we are taking a swing and a stab at Satan.

Prayer:
Jesus, help us to be fearless warriors for You. Women of prayer and strength. Women who don't fall for Satan's lies. Women who use our words not to hurt others, but to make Your grace evident. Help us to hold up our shields of faith. Encourage our hearts to pursue You with renewed vigor. Unfold the hearts of our loved ones and friends, and help us to be bold and talk about You. All these things we ask in Your holy name, amen.

Ephesians 5:15-20

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20
15 Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise,

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observations:

This is a great warning for me, followed by great encouragement. To be very careful how I represent Christ to others, and not to waste my time here acting a fool. I've been plenty foolish before, and to my shame. But He calls me to let God fill into every single aspect of my life and to seek out His will. My speech, what I sing, my everyday moments should all be dedicated to the Lord.

Application:
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. It's so amazing how worshiping God can drastically affect our outlook. It takes our eyes away from our problems and focuses them on Christ.  Whether it's a mountain or a molehill, when we choose to sing through it, God gets the glory. He's listening riiiight now! What song is your heart singing to Him? :) mine is "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. My prayer is the link to this song.
 

Prayer:
 

Ephesians 3:14-19

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Observations
Just typing those words gave me chills! He prays that we have the POWER to GRASP how much Jesus loves us. This love is beyond understanding! I kept thinking of the song "How He Loves" by David Crowder Band :)

Application
It's easy to dwell on negative things and I have a problem with worry. I worry! This verse reiterates that Jesus loves us SO much. God will lovingly take care of each one of us. Having this kind of assurance that I am so loved gives me such a boost of confidence in whatever I'm doing or encountering. Paul is praying for us to be so empowered. That we are truly filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Prayer
Jesus, I love You! Thank You for loving us so much. Help us to keep in mind HOW much You love us. Strengthen my sisters in Christ and their families with Your power. Dwell in us. In Your wonderful name I pray, amen.