Today's Verse: Ephesians 5:8

Thursday, September 17, 2026

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light...
— Ephesians 5:8
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Our before and after: we were lost, now found; we were darkness, now light. This should be our journey of grace. "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see," as the old hymn "Amazing Grace" has us sing. If we could only fully grasp what we so easily sing, then maybe our lives would be filled with more grace and our churches with more confident servants of God. Let's "live as children of light" (1 Thessalonians 5:5), transferred from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God's love (Colossians 1:13-14), in whom we have light and life (John 1:4).

My Prayer...

Lord God Almighty, by your grace we know that we stand before you today, welcomed into your glorious presence and received as your beloved children. You have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and flooded our hearts with your glorious light. Thank you for rescuing us from all the traps of the darkness and bringing us into your light. Please guide our hearts and our feet so they will walk your path and show forth your light to those in darkness. Through Jesus and by his authority, we pray. Amen.

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5 Related Resources by Heartlight

Be in the Light
Illustration of Ephesians 5:8
Inspirational illustration of Ephesians 5:8 -- For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
The Dancing Duck
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Do you know how to make a duck dance on an upsidedown pot? A duck that dances on a pot reveals the secret to shining our light and keeping our candle lit so that we can influence others.
God's Holy Spirit
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The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. No matter what evil spirits are present in this life, we know that God has given us a spirit that is stronger than all others. The message of God to this world is that God’s Holy Spirit is the only spirit worth celebrating, even on Halloween.
Inviting Darkness Home
Article by Phil Ware
Who would want to invite this mess home? If we don't wall pornography off at the source in our lives, then we end up just inviting it home.
See All 5 Related Resources about Ephesians 5:8

Illustration

Illustration of Ephesians 5:8 — You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light...

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About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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