Praise God from whom all blessings flow....
Growing up this is what we sang at the end of every service at the little Methodist church. It holds an important truth. Whether I am praying, teaching, talking with a friend, starting my day, ending my day, whatever it is..... I should start with praise. Not only does it get my heart and head in the right place, it acknowledges all God has done for me and for those around me.
Paul gives us a great example of that in Ephesians. After he greets, he immediately goes into praising God and acknowledging what He has done for him.
Praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is who he is praising- God the Father
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
Think about that- we are blessed in Christ. That means if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we are in Christ and we receive what Christ receives. What does Christ receive? EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavens. Every single one. Not just some, but ALL. And we receive that too because we are IN CHRIST!
For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world,
God CHOSE us....this is an amazing truth. The women's conference I attend every year at our church in San Antonio is called CHOSEN- and it is a truth I needed to hear many years ago that God chose me. I am not a Christian by accident. Before the foundation of the world- that means before I was even a twinkle in anyone's eye- I was already chosen by God, How special am I??
to be holy and blameless in His sight.
I in my own am not holy and blameless, but because Christ died for me and took my sin upon himself, God sees me as holy and blameless- just as He sees Jesus. That is a load off of me. I don't have to work hard enough and be good enough. I am enough in Christ!
In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself according to His favor and will,
Again, before time even began, He had already picked me out and claimed me for Himself. To be adopted. That is a such a powerful word to me. Adoption has always been my heart's cry from the time I was a young woman, and Dave and I are always preparing our hearts and our family for adoption when God's time comes for that. God had already planned on adopting me before I was even born- what joy and anticipation!
to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.
Paul makes so clear in this passage that it is all because of God's great grace that we are chosen and we should praise God for that.
Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
DAILY THANKS:
- Thankful for productive days free from pain
- Thankful for free clothes from a friend
- Thankful for beautiful, fall morning
- Thankful for a job I love
- Thankful for cinnamon rolls
DAILY PRAYER:
- Friends who suffer from chronic illness
- Healing in the kids who have been fighting sickness
- That God's LOVE and GRACE will be clear to loved ones
- Growth and healing in preemie babies
- For all those in the path of hurricane Matthew
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