50 Days of Prayer for Fellowship CRC

"Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Sleeper, awake!
    Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:8-18).

How do you hear this Scripture? Is it darkness and gloom, burden and obligation? Does it make you fear to walk in these dark, evil days? I see it just the opposite. I love this section of Scripture! It motivates me to wake up, to live the Spirit-filled resurrection life to the fullest.  It makes me want to live a life which produces the luscious fruit of God’s Sonshine. It makes me want to live a life pleasing to the Lord. 

“Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord,” it says. OK, God, I will! Because there is a life that is pleasing to the Lord, and I want to live it. Not that I will, or even have to be, perfect. But because of Christ, I can walk in full, clarifying light, even in evil days. I can ask God, “How about this, Abba? Is this what you want me to do today? Is this where you want me to go? Is this what you want me to say? 

This Scripture reminds me that the will of God is knowable. And when we try to live this kind of fully awake, Spirit-filled life, God will be pleased.

May the warmth of God’s love shine on you and produce good fruit as you walk in His light today.  May you find that you are pleasing him, as you come to understand His will for you today.

So we pray,
Father God, yes, the days are evil, but you are good. Awaken us today to your life, your love, and your light. Keep us from sinful ways. Lead us to do and say what pleases you. Help us to live confidently in your good pleasure. Turn your face toward us and smile on us, we pray, in Jesus. Amen.