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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 280

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Text: Ephesians 5:20

A HEART FULL OF THANKSGIVING

This is the kind of heart that every believer should possess, whether in the days of the psalmists, or in the days of the apostles. The following psalms well typify the challenge of many psalmists to their readers.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
PSALM 136:1

I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Everyday I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
PSALM 145:1-2

BEWARE THE WICKEDNESS OF THE HEART

The Christian must be careful to cultivate his heart. He must not take the cultivation of his heart for granted. The heart is far more evil than most comprehend or admit.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
These are the things which defile a man…
MATHEW 15:19-20

CULTIVATION OF A THANKFUL HEART

The believer has been redeemed from such a heart. He has been washed and cleansed by the Lord. The believer now has a new heart. He must devote time to cultivating his heart so that it becomes a heart that is filled with grateful thanksgiving to the Lord all the time.

Let us consider afresh the basic lessons on how to cultivate this heart of thanksgiving:-

1. Learn how to say “Thank You”

We teach children how to say “thank you” each time they receive a gift. This is something we must teach our hearts to do as well.

2. “Always for all things”

The heart that has been well and thoroughly instructed will be able to give thanks to God “always and for all things”. (This will even include tough times in life).

3. “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

a) All prayers ultimately must be directed to the Father.
b) All prayers are to be made in the name of our great Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ (Cf. 1 Timothy 2:5).