February 2, 2022
God’s Guidance in Good Works
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.
Eph 2:8-10 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Throughout Ephesians 2, Paul is explaining how God has taken us from death to life. As Paul writes about how we were lost in our sins and the magnificence of God’s grace, he is building up to salvation in verse 8 and 9. But Paul doesn’t stop with salvation. He is leading to what we were saved for. God has saved us for us to do good works, and not just any good works. There are good works that God has prepared for us ahead of time. He directs our steps so that we walk into those good works.
These verses remind us that we aren’t just saved to get out of Hell. God has a distinct plan for each person that includes tailor-made good works to do. We don’t have to stress about figuring out what good things we need to do. God has it planned out already. Our job is to walk closely with God and to keep our spiritual eyes open as he guides us into the good work. When there are changes to your personal plans, don’t see those as hindrances to what you want to do, see them as God directing you toward his plans. Many times God will change our life patterns to bring the people into our lives that we need to speak truth to. Take those instances and be on the lookout for good works that you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do otherwise!
Consider:
Prayer Points:
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.
Eph 2:8-10 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Throughout Ephesians 2, Paul is explaining how God has taken us from death to life. As Paul writes about how we were lost in our sins and the magnificence of God’s grace, he is building up to salvation in verse 8 and 9. But Paul doesn’t stop with salvation. He is leading to what we were saved for. God has saved us for us to do good works, and not just any good works. There are good works that God has prepared for us ahead of time. He directs our steps so that we walk into those good works.
These verses remind us that we aren’t just saved to get out of Hell. God has a distinct plan for each person that includes tailor-made good works to do. We don’t have to stress about figuring out what good things we need to do. God has it planned out already. Our job is to walk closely with God and to keep our spiritual eyes open as he guides us into the good work. When there are changes to your personal plans, don’t see those as hindrances to what you want to do, see them as God directing you toward his plans. Many times God will change our life patterns to bring the people into our lives that we need to speak truth to. Take those instances and be on the lookout for good works that you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do otherwise!
Consider:
- What is your attitude when God changes your plans?
- Are you on the lookout for God’s guidance in doing good works?
- Have there been times in the past few weeks that God has guided you into opportunities to share the Gospel?
Prayer Points:
- Pray that you walk in the good works that God has prepared for you.
- Pray that you would take disruptions to your plans and recognize that God is working.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting