Friday July 29, 2022

Today is Friday, July 29. This week our summer adventure takes us to Ephesians chapter five.

This is the day the Lord has made! I rejoice in God’s loving presence. I seek to receive whispers of his wisdom and follow the gems of his guidance.

Pause and Pray

Holy and loving Lord, I lay aside the burdens of the upcoming day, still the chaos of my mind and relinquish the cares of my heart. I empty myself of worldly concerns creating space to receive your indwelling presence. Come, Holy Spirit, live within me.

I awaken to the dawning of a new day and praise God with the sacred words of Psalm 57.

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. Psalm 57:7-9

Pause and Pray

Paul culminates this section of Ephesians by moving the reader from one spiritual state to another – darkness to light and death to life. Original sin entered the world through the Fall of Adam and Eve and we are all born dead in our transgressions. Through God’s bountiful mercy and the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ who died for our sins, we are redeemed and have salvation. We move from death to life, from light to darkness and from a state of spiritual slumber to becoming fully awake!

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:11-14

Yesterday Paul introduced me to the fruit of the light – goodness, righteousness and truth. Today Paul reveals the fruit of the darkness – barrenness. There is no fruit. In the same way living things cannot thrive without the light of the sun, believers cannot produce fruit for the kingdom without the light of Jesus Christ. The darkness cannot birth anything – it is barren, empty, unproductive and futile. The darkness is a secret place that harbors disobedience and shame. When the light of Christ shines in the darkness – sin is revealed, truth is evident, lies are exposed, deceit is discovered, and harm is unveiled.

Ask: Where is my life producing fruit and where is it barren or fruitless? Where do I find myself in darkness and needing the light of Jesus Christ to shine?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, you are the Light of the World. Expose the fruitless deeds of the black night that surrounds me and disclose the places of secret disobedience. Shine your light in the darkness of my world and illuminate the shadowed recesses of my soul. Wake me up from my slumber, revive me from spiritual death and shine on me. I read the words from Ephesians again and listen for the message you have for me.

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:11-14

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I endeavor to hear the specific message God has for me today. What does God want me to know? Which of these sacred words most resonate with my soul this morning? Words like fruitless, darkness, shame, secrets or disobedience? Words like expose, visible, illuminate, light or shine? Dark or light? Asleep or awake? Perhaps God wants these words to speak to a particular situation in my life or inform a decision I need to make. Maybe God wants me to change my behavior or discover a truth. Perhaps the light of Christ is about to reveal something essential for my life or shine a light on the path I am to take.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, shine your light into the dark corners of my heart. Awaken my soul to your presence, bring new life to the dead places, illuminate my doubt and vanquish my uncertainty. Revive, renew and restore me to abundant life in you. Come, Holy Spirit, light your fire in my soul, awaken me and guide me in the way I should go. Amen.

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

I leave this time of prayer wide awake to the truth of Jesus Christ. I go to shine my light in the darkness bringing hope, joy and peace.

Amen