S – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace

Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB

O – “But God” contrasts the first three verses while emphasizing this verse squarely on God.  Out of his abundant mercy and love for us, graciously negates our sin which leads to death. 

A – Even typing this, it still is humbling to think that in my worst, God saved me from my sin.  At my best, it would never have been good enough.  God meets us in the tension of that continuum to daily grow my relationship with him.  

R – Lord, thank you for another day to know you.  Only by your grace and mercy can I come in confidence that I am yours.  Thank you for your forgiveness.  “But God” takes my focus off of me and puts it squarely on you.  I invite your Holy Spirit to lead me today as I love you and others.

S – I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit^, of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. 

Eph 1:17–19 CSB

O – This prayer has the following elements:

• Honors Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit 
• Growing hearts
• Know the hope of his calling
• Know the abundance, and richness that comes with this relationship
• Know the unlimited power in our favor
• God works for our benefit.

A – Pray this prayer with full faith and confidence today.

R – Father – I pray the following prayer knowing that you are my God.  I love the benefits of knowing you.  Above that, I love that your love for me sent Jesus to the cross and allowed me to have a relationship with you.  Help me to walk in all that you have for me today.

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit^, of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. 

S – Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, ⁸ because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit

Galatians 6:7–8 CSB

O –  The word “mocked” is translated as “turn up one’s snout in contempt.” This principle of sowing and reaping is universal to each facet of life.  Whatever you sow, you will reap.  Even when someone receives a “benefit” from taking there is an eventual time where that will be rectified. 

A – I often say – “The truth will always come out.”  It is better to know you sowed foundationally what is right and true instead of cutting corners and playing margins.  In any area of your life, you are sowing for the good or bad.  God will not be “played or held in contempt.”  He will allow you to reap what you sowed.

R – Lord, I want to sow good things.  I surrender all that you have given me back to you.  Help me to steward it by the leading of your Holy Spirit so that it will bring forth good fruit.  I know I will make mistakes and sin.  Even in those times, let my sowing be from a heart that seeks forgiveness and more of you.  Let my thoughts, words and actions plant seeds of growth for me and others today.

S – For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery

Galatians 5:1 CSB

O – Christ set us free from the yoke of the law.  He wanted relationships to be the foundation of interacting with God, not obedience to rules.

A – Everyone desires freedom but it comes with a price tag.  Christ paid the price for it on the cross.  Yet, we have to actively move towards freedom.  We may not like rules but inside, we do.  We want the formula or the steps to “succeed.”  It doesn’t require faith to obey rules to achieve success. It does require faith to believe a relationship with God (who you cannot see or touch) has a plan and a purpose for your life.  It takes faith to believe his Word and commands are life-giving and in your best interest.  It requires faith to walk that out when bad things happen.  God wants relationship and faith to be the freedom we walk in and not going back to the restrictions of the law.

R – Lord, I invite you into today.  I choose faith in You over any other.  I am not looking for a formula or certain steps to find you – I want You and all of your character.  Help me to grow in my faith today.  

S – And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir

Galatians 4:6–7 CSB

O – Commentary:

The Holy Spirit is a gift of God to every believer because of sonship. No sons or daughters lack the Spirit. Further, He is present within each believer’s heart to give evidence of that one’s position in God’s family. The Spirit moves the believer to pray to God, addressing Him as Abba, Father (cf. Rom. 8:15). The word “Abba” is the Aramaic word for “Father.” It is the diminutive form used by small children in addressing their fathers. It is appropriate to see its similarity to the English word “Daddy.” Used by Christ (cf. Mark 14:36), this familiar form indicates intimacy and trust as opposed to the formalism of legalism.

“Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Upon receiving Christ, we are made sons and daughters of God.  This gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It also draws us into an “intimacy” with God that is known as children of our earthly fathers.  As believers, we should walk in this daily.

R – Abba Father, thank you that as Big as you are, you still allow us to approach you intimately.  We can trust and have total confidence that you will be with us through your Holy Spirit today.  We know that you have our best in mind as you lead us.  We love you.

S – There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 CSB

O –  Commentary: 

Paul emphasizes that the standard categories that often divide people—race, social status, gender—do not apply to those who are in Christ. It is not that such criteria cease to exist; rather, these distinctions are not grounds for exclusion from the life that God offers to all people in Christ. Because God is one (v. 20), He seeks to establish through Christ a single, unified family

Faithlife Study Bible 

A – Culture wants to divide and assign people to certain ideologies and qualities.  God wants a body that is unified.  We cannot disqualify what God has called them to do based on how they look, their race or their place in life.  

R – Lord, thank you for the rich diversity that is in your body of believers.  You make us so different.  Yet, you form us to come together as one.  Help us to work through our differences so that we can stand together in sharing your love with a world that so desperately needs it.

S – I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹

Galatians 2:20–21 CSB

O – Commentary: 

and I no longer live. The self-righteous, self-centered Saul died. Further, death with Christ ended Paul’s enthronement of self; he yielded the throne of his life to Another, to Christ. But it was not in his own strength that Paul was able to live the Christian life; the living Christ Himself took up His abode in Paul’s heart: Christ lives in me. Yet Christ does not operate automatically in a believer’s life; it is a matter of living the new life by faith in the Son of God. It is then faith and not works or legal obedience that releases divine power to live a Christian life. This faith, stated Paul, builds on the sacrifice of Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us. In essence Paul affirmed, “If He loved me enough to give Himself for me, then He loves me enough to live out His life in me.”

“Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A- The phrase “I no longer live” jumps out.  I do not live according to my own standards but God’s.  Not robotically, but in an active faith that is a relationship, not mere obedience.  Living takes on a new meaning.  Culture says it is doing, experiencing and achieving.  We can enjoy all of that if we keep Christ at the center and our relationship with Him is central.

R – Lord, thank you for another day to enjoy life.  My fulfillment comes in growing in you first.  I want to know You.  In doing so, I pray that your character is revealed to and through me.  Let me relationship with You be a foundation for the rest of my day.

S – I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. ²³ They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.

 Galatians 1:22–23 CSB

O – Paul’s journey takes him away from the apostles and the Judean churches.  Although distant, his message of Jesus lines up.  More amazing is the word of the one who used to persecute Christians is now preaching the same message.

A – We all make mistakes and fail.  God’s redemptive power allows for our worst sins to be forgiven.  God can take those and turn them into a powerful part of our testimony and direction.

R – Lord, thank you for your grace.  I ask for Your forgiveness for my sins. I ask that you will use this moment as a catalyst for growth for me.  Help me to see you working in my life so that I don’t just see a scar but another part of my testimony.

S – Those who have insight will shine 

like the bright expanse of the heavens, 

and those who lead many to righteousness, 

like the stars forever and ever. 

Daniel 12:3 CSB

O – Commentary:  

Being glorified in the kingdom, they will shine like the brightness of the heavens. (Cf. Matt. 13:43, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”) They will be wise, for they will trust in the Messiah even though it will result in their suffering.

This message that God will remember His covenant and will fulfill all He promised to Israel (in spite of her sufferings at the hands of the Gentiles) will be a consolation that will in turn cause them to lead others to righteousness (cf. the “wise” in Dan. 12:10). No righteousness of God’s people ever goes unrewarded so those who are faithful under persecution will shine like the stars forever and ever.

“Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – At all times (especially the end times), we need to be wise.  We need to be aware of the spiritual realm.  Even though we cannot see it, it truly impacts us.  It should cause us to go back to God and grow that relationship.

R – Lord, there is so much we do not know.  Either you have not revealed it or we see in part the things that are to come.  Help us to live today in a way that glorifies you and grows us closer.  Every day is a gift and we want to maximize today to glorify you.

S – Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴

Daniel  10:12–14 CSB

O – The Lord heard Daniel’s prayers when he first said them.  There was spiritual opposition from the prince of Persia.  There was spiritual warfare going on. Finally, the heavenly being made it to Daniel.

A – There is spiritual warfare going on today.  When we pray, we do our part.  God does His part too.  It may be waiting, giving us an answer or conflict in spiritual realms.  Our role is to pray and have faith.  God’s role takes care of the rest.  It isn’t easy because waiting or not recognizing the spiritual realm can be difficult.

R – Lord, we invite your Holy Spirit to lead us today.  The things we lay at your throne through prayer are at your discretion to do with as you desire.  We will come in faith and trust in you.  Thank you for going to war for us in the spiritual realm.  We know you are the One, True God and that there is nothing that rivals your majesty or power.