This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Ephesians 1:1-14 NLT
You are chosen and part of God's plan. These verses teach us that we are part of something bigger. God's plan is to bring this world back to His will—with all authority given to Christ and every heart coming home to the Creator. When we trust in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing the inheritance of God's promise. We are God's children and part of God's plan; it is His pleasure and good will to bring us into His plan. All of this brings Him praise and glory. Even though human hearts have rebelled against God, He loves us and has a plan to bring us back.
Do you realize that you are chosen? Accept that you are special and let that soak into your self-worth.
Do you know that you have the Holy Spirit? Then don't accept that you are powerless. You have the power of God living inside of you, changing you.
Do you realize you are part of God's bigger plan? Then see your life with gratitude and praise the Lord. Even the struggles we have—which are real—can't thwart the will of God. He can make everything—even the bad things—work for our good. Praise Him!
