MAY "prayer-starters"

Day 18—God Has Designed Us according to the Purpose of His Own Will

God designed us in the counsel of the ages that we might be conformed to the image of His Son. Even though we have all fallen short of His glory, He has reached for us. He has laid hold on us. And, He is drawing us to Himself.
Paul went on in the opening Statement of Ephesians Truth to tell us it is God’s determination to have us with Him in His eternal Kingdom. He spoke clearly in Ephesians 1:11 that by Christ Jesus we have obtained an inheritance. It is a kingly inheritance. Going back to consider our prior design, we find, as we go on in verse 11, that we have been predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own will.The word worketh is from the Greek energeío which means “to communicate energy and efficiency.” What a powerful hold this brings over upon us! It is becoming clear that He designed us—that is, He made us the way we are—with the potential of our becoming vessels for the communication of the energy and efficiency in His Kingdom.

The answer as to how God will accomplish His work through us is beginning to dawn upon us. It’s here, in these words: He worketh all things after the counsel of His Own will. Whatever His will may be for us, He is the energizing force by which it will be accomplished. Paul knew this when He said, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure—Philippians 2:13.

FATHER, I give You all that I am, even the weak parts of me. I am learning from Paul that You take the weakness in us to demonstrate Your power. My lack of wisdom is crowding me in to know more of the wisdom that You give. My poor character and moral strength is crowding me into the righteousness that is mine in Christ Jesus. Have all of me!

David discovered that God will work with us by mercy and truth.—Psalm 25:1-10

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Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; Tthat ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Day 18—God Has Designed Us according to the Purpose of His Own Will God designed us in the counsel of the ages that we might be conformed to the image of His Son. Even though we have all fallen short of His glory, He has reached for us. He has laid hold on us. And, He is drawing us to Himself. Paul went on in the opening Statement of Ephesians Truth to tell us it is God’s determination to have us with Him in His eternal Kingdom. He spoke clearly in Ephesians 1:11 that by Christ Jesus we have obtained an inheritance. It is a kingly inheritance. Going back to consider our prior design, we find, as we go on in verse 11, that we have been *predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own will.The word worketh* is from the Greek *energeío* which means “to communicate energy and efficiency.” What a powerful hold this brings over upon us! It is becoming clear that He designed us—that is, He made us the way we are—with the potential of our becoming vessels for the communication of the energy and efficiency in His Kingdom. The answer as to how God will accomplish His work through us is beginning to dawn upon us. It’s here, in these words: He *worketh all things after the counsel of His Own will.* Whatever His will may be for us, He is the energizing force by which it will be accomplished. Paul knew this when He said, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure—Philippians 2:13. FATHER, I give You all that I am, even the weak parts of me. I am learning from Paul that You take the weakness in us to demonstrate Your power. My lack of wisdom is crowding me in to know more of the wisdom that You give. My poor character and moral strength is crowding me into the righteousness that is mine in Christ Jesus. Have all of me! David discovered that God will work with us by mercy and truth.—Psalm 25:1-10 Top of Page Berean Ministries PO Box 38 Elk Park, NC 28622-0038 © Berean Gospel Fellowship. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission to reprint in part or in whole is usually granted.