Ephesians 4:2-3 - The United Way

Step 1: Pray. Select.

I was blessed to start my morning prayer practice with a longtime friend today. I was extremely excited to hear how God would speak to her and share our experiences after we completed our steps in real-time.

As I focused on Step 1, the words bonded, believers, and spiritual family came to mind. I began to ponder God’s definition of what a spiritual family looks like through his eyes.

As I looked up a few scriptures, the one that jumped out at me the most was Ephesians 4:2-3.

This is where my journey began today, friends.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

Ephesians 4:2-3 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

• With All Lowliness And Gentleness

• Endeavoring To Keep

• Unity Of The

• Bond Of Peace

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart. Don't forget, if you are doing this alongside me today, make sure to add your name to your unique sentence:

• Jennifer, with all lowliness and gentleness endeavoring to keep the unity of the bond of peace.

Step 4: Visualize

As I meditate on my sentence and the day's verse, I envision Jesus hanging on the cross on Calvary. He is bloodied and beaten, and his head is hung low. I imagine the pain he must be enduring at this very moment. Truthfully, I can’t really imagine what he is going through since the level of brutality he experienced was nothing like any of us will ever encounter in our lifetime.

The Holy Spirit asks me to re-examine why Jesus is there, fighting on our behalf.

At first, I think about how he is there to cover my sins so I can get into Heaven. But then, I am quickly corrected, like being struck by a bolt of lightning, and a thought bursts into my mind. He stands in the gap, fighting for our connection and lifeline to our Father. This is the cost. This is what it looks like to sacrifice for the goodness of others.

The scripture warns us about powers and principalities on Earth. Understand that these powers and principalities are free to tempt all of us into living a life away from the teachings of Jesus. It is not a life of peace but rather a manipulation promising that we will achieve peace if we become more powerful individually. This is not true and only creates competition amongst each other to fight for ownership in this world.

Hmm. I stop for a bit at that last sentence. Wasn’t that precisely the nature of Satan? He wanted to live life on his terms and was arrogant enough to exalt himself as an equal to God only to get himself cast out of Heaven. And when he got cast out of Heaven, he was condemned to the Earth for eternity. He will never have access to the peace and love or the Kingdom of the Father again.

The Holy Spirit is asking me to look at the fact that our Father did not abandon us and leave us to the devourer. No matter your greatest sin, God is still fighting on your behalf and sent Jesus to make a way to him. If we are worthy of that love, let's spread what we receive to others so they, too, can continue to feel valuable and worthy, spreading love and saving more souls from eternal entrapment separated from our Father. If we do these things, the peace of Jesus and his sacrifice, promising us a better life, will spread like wildfire throughout Earth. We will be fighting fire with fire. As believers, we become light within a dark world like Jesus, who was the light of the world.

I have a question, so I move to Step 5.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The question that came to mind is:

• Holy Spirit, why is it so hard to have peace with one another?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

"The devourer wants you to compete and fight for a place in this world when you should be fighting for your rightful place in Heaven. Sometimes, you have even been tricked into competing with God, testing his ways, like when Eve ate the apple, wanting to be like God and have the same knowledge instead of trusting he always had a place for you right next to him. When you encounter those in charge of saving themselves, they viciously fight for world domination, which is a pebble in God’s sandal. If we want to ascend and experience peace beyond our understanding, as Jesus has promised, we must put our brothers and sisters above and not beneath. The only thing that should be beneath is the enemy and the Earth beneath our feet. We know through the Messiah, we are already victorious. He tells us, in my Father’s house, there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. Competition is for the limited space in this world and small-minded thinking. Not for the infinite space of your Father’s world, which you are a direct descendant if you choose to claim who you belong to. Fight on behalf of your brother and sisters, and leave no one behind, for there is plenty in the presence of your Father.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of your son Jesus.

I am humbled this morning at your son's sacrifice to show us a way to you. Please help me not to focus on this world's competition, but rather on the abundance and good news, I want to share with others since you have plenty of room for all your creation once we leave this world.

Please send your watchmen to keep track of my steps and not let my foot stumble as I walk out this life. Help me show an overabundance of love toward others so they can see the light of Jesus, which lives inside of me through baptism. Help those I encounter see that you did not abandon me when I was searching and instead provided a way where there was no way.

Let us join together to share the gospels and your teachings, which provide peace on Earth. Let no man walk alone to be devoured in darkness.

I ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus and seal this prayer with the precious blood of the lamb - Amen!

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.

Remember to spread hope and share your miracle or testimony HERE. We want to see how God is working in your life!

Conclusion:

Friends, today, let’s give love to others as we reflect on the fact that our Father loved us enough to make a way to stay connected in eternity, even if we disconnect for moments here on Earth.

Let us spread the good news not by boasting but by the humble nature that Jesus displayed through spending time with one another and showing love beyond comparison.

Let me be an honorable disciple of Jesus's teachings, spreading knowledge to others so they can become teachers themselves and glorify your name wherever they go.

Most importantly, let's acknowledge the revelation we received through the crucifixion: You, Father, provided a doorway to your kingdom after death and did not abandon us or leave us to be devoured.

Go forward today and spread love and peace to be the light everywhere you go and with everyone you encounter.

Have an incredible journey today, friends! See you soon.