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. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-19
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
Entering the realm of God’s presence and love through surrender easily eludes us. But God stands ready to help us if we are willing to call out to Him for mercy and victory. God delights to help us become empty of self and to fill us with His loving presence. The apostle John said that there is no fear in love and that perfect love casts out fear. So, surrender brings spiritual boldness to us because in our surrender we forget about ourselves and our fears through the loving transformation of God’s presence and love. The ugly attitude of – I am better because I have the truth, you don’t, I win – is gone. The boastful attitude of – I am better because I am on the winning team, you’re the enemy, you lose – is gone. The I have arrived attitude of – I am better because I have it all together, I’m at the top, you’re nowhere – is gone.
Instead, the fragrance of Christ produces an attitude of beauty, so I respect the world; an attitude of humility, so that I love the world; and an attitude of becoming, so that I join the world. Experiencing Christ’s fragrant love, being filled with Christ’s fragrant love, and exuding Christ’s fragrant love is what living fully is all about. Living fully in Christ’s love gives us the spiritual boldness needed for reaching the world God’s way. And that my friend is exactly what we are here on earth to do! How can we resist the fragrant love of Christ? What a remarkable thing it is be actively participating in “The Kingdom Plan of God.”
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, I surrender to your fragrant and irresistible love. I know why I am here, and I give myself fully to you and your amazing kingdom plan. Adjust my attitudes toward the world and grant me a true spiritual boldness for blessing and reaching others with the fragrance of Christ. I love you, worship you, and bless you, Lord. Amen!
