Day 14

Bible passage: Ephesians 1:15–19a (ESVUK)

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 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...

Thinking about the new creation and prayer

In Ephesians 1:15–19a, in response to remembering the blessings we have in Christ (Ephesians 1:1–14), Paul prays that we would have the eyes of our hearts enlightened so we would truly know Christ, and the blessings we have in him.

  • How does Paul show that thinking about the new creation is a normal part of a Christian’s life? Why does Paul pray for what he does?
  • Think: how have you found the experience of thinking about the new creation this week? List what has excited you about the new creation.
  • Pray: these new creation promises are ours, by the grace of God, in Christ. Use the words of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15–19a, to ask for God to help you to know Christ and the hope to which he has called you.

Today

Make a plan now for how will you continue thinking about the new creation going forward.

Thinking further

Think about the following questions, that you can keep asking yourself.

If you were told that Jesus will return this week, how would you feel? Why?

If you’ve found it hard to think about the new creation this week:

  1. Pray and asking for God’s to help you appreciate what he promises
  2. Chat about it with someone
  3. What specifically about the new creation you find hard to think about or believe
  4. Perhaps you think these promises are too good to be true if so turn to today’s prayer
  5. It is possible there is something in your life, such as an un-repented of sin that is making it hard to believe the promises of God. If so, confess it now to God.

If you find it hard to believe that the new creation is real, go back to the resurrection of Jesus—1 Corinthians 15. If Jesus has risen, our resurrections must follow, and we must inhabit a physical new world with our resurrection bodies.

You could return to one of the earlier days and go through again the suggested thinking. How has your view of the new creation grown over this week? What excites you most about what you saw on this day?