365 Days of Praise
I AM GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,“
“I am God’s workmanship.” Say it to yourself. Be humbled by it. But He not only created us as human beings; He recreated us in Christ Jesus. In other words, He made us anew. The word “created” in verse 10 means “to form, shape, to completely change or transform.”* That means we have a new start in Christ Jesus. And with our new start, come new works – good works. Maybe we look at our past and think of the times we’ve blown it. But our past is just that – past. After we’ve repented of our “bad works,” God calls us to today and to the good works for which He created us. I’m walking as His workmanship today. So are you.
Heavenly Father, what a delight to start over every day and to know that Your mercies and compassion are fresh every morning. Teach us how to walk as Your workmanship.
I AM CREATED for GOOD WORKS
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.“
I’m sitting in Room 804 of a hotel in Ft Worth, Texas. As I look out the window, I wonder, “What does God want of me today?” Then, I realize I already have the answer. He wants me to walk in the good works He has prepared for me. What are those good works? I don’t know the details yet. But, I know my walk must begin with a prayer, “Fill me with Your Spirit so that I walk by Your Spirit today.” I know my walk will involve choosing to be selfless. It will involve turning from temptation. It will demand I purposefully yield my will to His leading. It is a moment by moment walk. And, at the end of the day, I will look back and see the good works that God prepared for me to walk in. I’ll also see some mis-steps. No doubt, I’ll have to confess mud puddles of sin into which I walked when I wasn’t paying attention. But, it will be a walk on which Jesus is ever present; patiently whispering my name to guide me back on path.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the good works You prepared in which I am to walk. Forgive me when I stray. Quicken me to be increasingly sensitive to Your promptings and the good works You’ve prepared for me to do.
I AM SAVED
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.“
Meriam Ibrahim. Are you familiar with her? She is a Sudanese woman who faced being lashed and hung because she is a Christian. After giving birth to her son while in prison in ankle chains; she, her newborn, and 2 year old child remained in prison while her Christian husband fought for her release. There was NOTHING she could do to save herself. She was in shackles. She was imprisoned. And, so are we until we turn our faces heavenward and cry out to Jesus. We cannot save ourselves. But we can be saved. Someone beyond the prison cell, someone higher than Meriam, knew of her inability to save herself and did the necessary work to save her and rescue her from the domain of darkness in which she was captive. Today, if God has saved you; praise Him for the gift of your salvation. Praise Jesus for doing the work of paying for the price of your sins in His body on the cross. Praise them for rescuing you from the domain of Satan’s darkness. Praise them and say with deep hearted gratefulness, “I am saved.”
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, may a day not go by that I am not keenly aware of the blessing of being able to say, “I am saved.”
I Am SEATED with GOD in the HEAVENLY PLACES in CHRIST
“and seated us with Him in the heavely places in Christ Jesus,“
Work. Work. Work. Do you ever feel that you have to “work” for God? Or, that you have to “work” to make yourself a better Christian? True, we want to serve Christ. And, we want to work heartily for Him. However, our work must flow from a position of deep “seated” gratefulness and knowledge that our work is simply our being His vessels. When we attempt to do “works” for God that originate in our minds rather than heaven, they become burdensome. When we serve Christ out of a determined, “I must get this done,” attitude, we find the task draining. But, when we see all that God has done for us in Christ and that He has seated us in Christ in the heavenly places, our perspective and service changes. Seated in Christ, we whisper prayers to our Father and listen to what He’d like us to do. Filled with His Spirit, we tackle projects; knowing the joy and the gifts of His Spirit that we’re experiencing are flowing from Him.
Heavenly Father, it’s amazing for me to think on how I am seated with You in the heavenly places in Christ. Help me more fully rest in that seated position.
I AM RAISED UP with CHRIST
“and raised us up with Him,“
I’m smiling. Yep. Grinning ear to ear. Sitting here all by myself in my study at home. I hadn’t been smiling. I had been plowing through emails, trying to get a head start on the day on which I was already behind. But then, I read Ephesians 2:6 and that’s when I realized I was smiling. What about you? Does it make you smile to envision your sins as buried and to think on the mighty power of God raising you from death to new life in Christ; a new life in which your sins are not covering you – but rather Christ’s righteousness is? Smile with me today.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the glorious knowledge that I am raised up with Christ, free of my sin, raised to the glories of heaven; raised to walk in new life. I love You and praise You!
I HAVE SURPASSING GREAT POWER through CHRIST
“what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. “
Do you ever feel powerless? Perhaps you want to reach a goal, but it seems beyond your reach. Maybe you have attempted to overcome a sinful habit, but find yourself powerless to stand against it. In Ephesians 1:19, we’re reminded that there is a power, and a surpassingly great one at that. It is extended to those of us who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It means – never give up. It means – look beyond yourself to Christ. It means – confess your inability and call out to the Lord of the Universe. When do we most fully experience God’s great power toward us? When we’re empty of ourselves and open our hearts to the Great Power of God – Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the surpassing greatness of Your power which You extend to those of us who believe in You and call on Your name.
I HAVE HOPE
“so that you will know what is the hope of His calling,”
As a Christian, I have HOPE. Praise God, I have HOPE! For what do I need or want hope? On a grand scheme, I hope for the new earth and heaven that will replace our fallen world. On a personal level, I hope for many things; that my grandchildren come to know Christ at an early age; that I might be a pure vessel for Christ. I can’t imagine not having hope. If you are feeling down, disappointed in yourself, or worried about the future, open your Bible and read Ephesians 1:18. It will encourage you. It will remind you of the hope that is yours in Christ.
Heavenly Father, there are not enough words to express my praise to You for the hope of my calling in Christ. Purify me so that I am a pure and spotless bride.
The EYES of MY HEART are ENLIGHTENED
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,”
This verse marks a pivotal point in my spiritual pilgrimage. I was a college summer missionary. Where was I sent to spread God’s Word? My home state – Texas. For 10 weeks I traveled with two other college students and we led workshops in churches across Texas. My part? To teach on the Holy Spirit. I remember one morning I was studying in Ephesians and God “did a work on me.” I read today’s verse and the Holy Spirit quickened my heart, “I can open your eyes to see more than the printed words. I can enlighten the eyes of your heart to see into the depth of My teachings.” My heart leaped, yearning to know God and His Word more deeply. He enlightened the eyes of my heart that morning to the incredible richness of His Word. I can honestly say that I’m in love with the Bible, for it is God’s deep, rich, powerful message to us. If you’ve never before accepted Christ’s gift of enlightening the eyes of your heart, open your Bibles to Ephesians 1:18-20. Read what is yours in Christ. Then, pray, “Enlightened the eyes of my heart.”
Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ the eyes of my heart are enlightened to the hope of His calling, the riches of glory of my inheritance, and the surpassing greatness of Christ’s power toward me.
I AM SEALED in CHRIST with the HOLY SPIRIT
“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,”
Are you familiar with 1970’s song, “Sealed with A Kiss?” The lyrics follow:
Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer
Baby, I promise you this
I’ll send you all my love
Every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss
Yes, it’s gonna be a cold lonely summer
But I’ll fill the emptiness
I’ll send you all my dreams
Every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss
I’ll see you in the sunlight
I’ll hear your voice everywhere
I’ll run to tenderly hold you
But baby, you won’t be there
I don’t wanna say goodbye for the summer
Knowing the love we’ll miss
So let us make a pledge
To meet in September
And seal it with a kiss.
When I think of the above lyrics and the “pledge” of love “sealed with a kiss,” I wonder if we can in any way get our minds around our Bridegroom’s words to us: that He was leaving; but He would not forget us, He would continue His deep love for us. When He left, He would send us the seal of His love: the Holy Spirit; a seal of more profound than that between two lovers. His seal, the Holy Spirit of Promise – the promise of our relationship being consummated at the heavenly Wedding Feast – reaches to our innermost core and being. It is beyond emotional. It is beyond physical. It is beyond intellectual. It is deeper still – a spiritual love and eternal promise. Some people know only of human love. But there is a more profound love and relationship that is sealed with the kiss of Christ’s Holy Spirit. Do you have that seal? If not, click here and respond to Christ’s calling for you to be His eternal bride.
Heavenly Father, thank You for our Bridegroom Jesus Christ and for the engagement gift of the Holy Spirit of Promise in whom believers are sealed.
I HAVE an INHERITANCE
“also we have obtained an inheritance,”
Just when it seems that we’re about to burst as we ponder on all that we have been given in Christ, we are reminded of yet another aspect of our identity as Christians. We’re RICH! Rather than being paupers, we are the recipients of an inheritance from God. What is our inheritance? It is the riches of God’s glory, of a place prepared for us in heaven, Christ returning to receive us into His glory. Our inheritance is eternal life where sin does not exist. Our inheritance is fellowship and harmony with God and others for eternity. Our inheritance is a new heaven and a new earth. Our inheritance is…we could go on forever; for that is our blissful inheritance – God’s love, glory, and peace forever.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the inheritance that I have in You. Help me live with a grateful heart for all You have given me and will give me in Christ Jesus.