Last night I went to the Bible study feeling quite cheesed off, I didn’t really feel like going but knew that was the best place I could go. I knew we were studying Ephesians 1 and had been quite excited at the prospect but what a wise decision it was to go! It was a real encouragement to me and a gentle reminder of how much hope I have in life.
A reminder too about prayer, about the need to be thankful and thoughtful when I pray, not just reeling off a list of names and needs, requests and petitions but really bringing issues big and small before God and going deep with Him, and also remembering to continually thank Him for answers to prayers, blessings I take for granted so very often, for basic issues of life and for life itself.
We were reminded too of the power of God, the mighty power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and that will one day raise all the dead, and create a new heaven and a new earth. The same great power that put Jesus at the right hand of his Father in the heavenly realms, and above all things. That not being an awesome enough thought in itself, we were then reminded that that power is not just for what will happen in the future, but for the present, the here and now, that that same power that conquered the grave lives in me now. Amazing!
We concluded by looking at Eph 1v4, a verse that I love, about being chosen by God before the creation of the world, before time even began. It’s a truly wonderful thing to know that God loves me, despite all I am, and that therefore I have a purpose in life to fulfil, all part of His plan. Although I know I’ll fail in fulfilling my life in many ways and quite often don’t feel fulfilled, I know that God’s power is at work in me by His Holy Spirit to make me into the person He wants me to be, and has planned for me to be. I just need to be more open and responsive to Him. It's really quite exciting.
It was well worth going last night, so often when I feel like not going out and making excuses, God blesses and encourages me all the more. So, thanks be to God.
