We praise God because He is worthy of our praises. We praise Him for our sake and not for His sake.

Surrendering and making time to put God first.

Peace and comfort from trusting that God is with us.

With the Psalms we proclaim God’s worth and acknowledge all He has done and continues to do to save us.

Inviting the Holy Spirit into our time of praise.

Be strong in the Lord, using the protections God has provided to arm ourselves in this challenging world.

Paul continues his letter: children obey and honor their parents. Parents are not to provoke your children. Servants and masters respect each other with good will. God’s reward is not affected by a Christian’s station in life. Be strong in the Lord, he writes, using the protections He has provided to arm and defend you in this challenging world. Cover yourselves with God’s armor and the word of God, so you can overcome the darkness. Paul ends by asking for prayers for all the saints and for himself and for all Christians to have the courage and boldness in speaking the Gospel.

Imitate God by walking in love, Paul writes. Don’t be mislead by the disobedient ones living in darkness.

As children of the light, find what is acceptable to God — be known for goodness, righteousness, and truth. Be wise; understand God’s will and what pleases Him. Be filled with the Spirit thanking God always for everything. Husbands, treasure your wives as Christ treasures His Church. Wives respect your husbands. Out of love and reverence for Christ, we are to be subordinate to one another, which leads to unity and oneness with Christ.

Paul writes of unity and oneness. God has provided different ministries to build the body of Christ.

Paul asks the Ephesians to walk worthy of their calling, in the unity of the Spirit. There is one body, spirit, Lord, faith, baptism and one God above all, living in all. God has provided different ministries to build the body of Christ so the Church will be uplifted in love until it achieves the stature of Christ. Their minds must be renewed in Christ and they need to “put on” the new self that God created.

Paul affirms that God’s power is at work in the Ephesians for the glory of Jesus Christ and the Church.

Paul writes from prison having been arrested for his bold preaching to the Ephesians. He tells them not to be discouraged about his trouble, because he knows his suffering is meant for their glory. Paul prays that God will strengthen them so they will know the infinite love of Christ for them and that Christ will dwell in their hearts.