God's Holy Fire: 'Blessings from the Spirit'

Friday, August 4, 2023

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
— Ephesians 1:3 NIV

Key Thought

Go back and read that verse again and instead of "every spiritual blessing," read "every blessing the Spirit gives"! Does the meaning change? Is your focus refined? Spiritual means "of the Spirit" — from the Spirit or involving the Spirit. The root of the word "spiritual" in the original is just like the root in English — it includes the word spirit! Spiritual can refer to negative spiritual influences (Ephesians 6:12), but in the context of believers and used positively, it points us in the direction of the Holy Spirit. Life is spiritual; the real question is whether we seek the Holy Spirit or simply allow negative spiritual influences to control us. In Christ, however, the Holy Spirit pours good blessing after good blessing into our lives. To be a spiritual follower of Jesus means that the Holy Spirit fills us, empowers us, and blesses us with all God has for us in Christ!

Today's Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the grace of every spiritual blessing in Christ. I pray that you help me recognize these blessings that the Spirit brings to me because of the victory of Jesus. I praise you for your incredible gift of grace and the enduring presence of the Holy Spirit who assures me of your great and abundant blessings. In Jesus' name, I thank you! Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Ephesians 1:3 NIV — Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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