I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources
    he will empower you with inner strength
    through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home
    in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will
    grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
         Ephesians 3:16,17 NLT

Have you ever wondered how God could love us, especially on those days when we really blow it? Read Ephesians 3 again. It was always Father God’s plan to rescue undeserving humanity from the power of sin, Satan’s control of our lives. God knew us, even before we were born, and, as God knows the beginning from the end, he knew we were never going to be deserving of his glorious love.  But he chose to save us anyway.  Ephesians 3:10 says that God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in all its rich variety “to be known and talked about even by the angels.” (The Message)

It is God’s love manifested in Christ’s sacrifice that saves us.  And we tend to forget that it is God’s love working in and through us by the Holy Spirit that keeps us growing and bringing Christ’s Kingdom to earth.  If this is true, it appears that we have under estimated the power of God’s love. I know I have.  It is clear from God’s Word that we are brought to life, then sustained and kept strong by God’s love.  We are helpless without it.

We receive this powerful source of strength by trusting in Jesus. When we choose to trust God, we get a fresh revelation of his infinite, eternal love.  It is beyond our understanding completely, but God invites us to experience his love, by faith.

As you read all of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-21, notice how many times power and strength are linked to God's love.  Receive that revelation, drink it in, and receive more of Christ’s love, his power to overcome any obstacle in your life today.

Dear friends, be blessed as you daily trust in Jesus to guide and sustain you. The very power that raised Christ from the dead, that holds together the very universe, lives in you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to grow the roots of your heart deep into the Father’s love and be blessed as you are filled with his strength. As you choose to align yourself with your heavenly Father’s plan and purpose for you, feel the power, your ability through his love, to accomplish infinitely more than you can imagine. And rejoice! Amen.
Mary Sumner ~ June 18, 2024

  That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying,
our spirits are being renewed every day.
  For our present troubles are small and won’t last
very long. Yet they produce for us a glory
that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
     2 Corinthians 4:16,17 NLT

Have you been in a battle that you feel will never end?  Know that you are not alone.  Our enemy the devil has released powerful spirits of deception, mind control and manipulation and we can see the results in increased confusion, blindness to the things of God and violence.  He is the prince of darkness in this world, and he knows his time is limited, so he is out to destroy all and everyone who would point people to Christ.

So, hang on!  We know Jesus has already won this battle and defeated Satan in his war against the Father’s beloved children.  Look to the Cross and Christ’s words, “It is finished.”  Jesus is alive and leading his troops in battle. 

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes and ears, and cause us to love and understand all that Christ’s victory means for us, even today and for our personal skirmishes.  We are forgiven of all our sin.  Jesus has taken all our shame.  In Christ, our fear is defeated.  The Father’s truth, his eternal light, overcomes all darkness.  We have all our wonderful promises, like Jesus will never leave nor abandon us.  Even when we can’t feel his presence he is with us and for us.

Christ is the one who knows the end from the beginning.  And his Word says the end of our stories will be “glorious”, beyond our wildest imaginations.  Even now, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, at the right hand of the Father. (Eph.2:6) We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, God in us, as proof we belong to the Father.  Satan is defeated.  He knows it. 

Let’s choose to believe the truth.  Our God is bigger, more powerful, compassionate and merciful, and his love for us is eternal, unchanging. We really have nothing to fear.  Our future is sealed.  We are one with Christ forever.  We are on the winning team.  Praise God!  That is something to smile and shout about.

Dear friends, be blessed as you daily remember to whom you belong. You are dearly loved and cherished by your heavenly Father.  There is no fear in his love.  The Holy Spirit is at work in you and through you to grow you more beautiful and more pleasing to God.  The enemy is afraid you will believe the truth that has set you free.  So, be blessed to believe, and be filled with joy as you become all that God created you to be.  Amen.
Mary Sumner ~ June 4, 2024