Last night, I felt completely overwhelmed. My husband had to work late, the baby was fussy all day, the boys were fighting a lot, and by the time I got around to doing the dishes and the laundry I just didn't feel like it. I felt like I had been picking up the house all day, and I just couldn't keep up with it any more. I went to bed feeling totally beat and frustrated, and started praying. Then, I realized I haven't picked up my bible once today. In fact, I haven't picked up my bible in a while. I spend a lot of time praying every day, talking to God. I couldn't get through my days without prayer, and I find encouragement when I can actively see God working things out for me. But, I haven't spent much time just listening. And, I need that too. So, I turned on Ephesians (because I always find encouragement there...) and just listened before I fell asleep. And, you know what? It did me a lot of good.
While I went to bed feeling completely overwhelmed, I fell asleep feeling completely assured in who I am and whose I am. Here's what I heard:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy,because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
...having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy,because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith.
Funny how the gospel can be so encouraging, right? :)
Even when I feel completely overwhelmed and just tired, I can rest well knowing that Jesus is my portion. When I was at my worst, God chose to pursue me and love me, and when he looks at me, He sees perfection because of Jesus.
He gave me a new name and a new identity, and even when I feel dejected, I know that I am valued and deeply loved.
Hopefully you can find some encouragement in the gospel today too!
What verse(s) do you run to when you just need to feel encouraged?
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Even when I feel completely overwhelmed and just tired, I can rest well knowing that Jesus is my portion. When I was at my worst, God chose to pursue me and love me, and when he looks at me, He sees perfection because of Jesus.
He gave me a new name and a new identity, and even when I feel dejected, I know that I am valued and deeply loved.
Hopefully you can find some encouragement in the gospel today too!
What verse(s) do you run to when you just need to feel encouraged?
Like reading Far More Precious posts? Sign up in the form below to receive them in your inbox!