TEXT: EPHESIANS 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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Last year, God gave me a prayer that I want to share with you as we enter the new year. It is called “The Life Prayer,” and it goes like this:
God, prepare us for good days and bad days,
prepare us for celebrations and tragedies,
prepare us for weddings and funerals,
prepare us for life and death.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
None of us know what the new year will bring. However, if it is anything like this old year, it will be a mixture of highs and lows, joy and pain. There will be some good in it and some bad in it. There will be some celebration and some tragedy. And we need to be prepared for everything that comes our way. What we learn from Ephesians 2:10 is that, through whatever events we face, God is working on us and is using all of those circumstances to move us into the place where he wants us to be, primarily spiritually, but also in other areas of life. As we enter the new year and prepare to face good days and bad days, celebrations and tragedies, weddings and funerals, life and death, there are three things we ought to remember.
First, understand that we are the work of God. That is what Paul means when he says “we are his workmanship.” The Greek word translated as “workmanship” means “that which has been made”; it refers to “the works of God as creator.” God is literally creating, molding, shaping, and making us into what He wants us to be. Everything that happened to us in 2018 and every thing that will happen to us in 2019 has been used and will be used in that process. Thus, we ought to pray, “God, prepare us” for everything that we will face.
Second, understand that we are on our way to doing good works for God. Why is God working on us? Why is He allowing us to go through the ups and downs of life? It is because He is preparing us to do “good works” as believers. We have been born again (or “created”) in Christ Jesus for this purpose. Dr. Warren Wiersbe said, “Christ finished His work of redemption on the cross, but He arose from the dead and returned to heaven. There He carries on His unfinished work of perfecting His church. Christ is equipping us for our walk and our work here on earth. To do this, He uses three special tools: the Word of God, prayer, and suffering. As we read God’s Word, understand it, meditate on it, and feed on it, the Word goes to work in our lives to cleanse us and nourish us. As we pray, God’s Spirit works in us to release power. And as we suffer, the Spirit of God ministers to us. Suffering drives us back to the Word and prayer, and the cycle is repeated.”
Friend, don’t leave the old year glad that the year is over, ready to throw off all the old experiences. Learn from those experiences, both good and bad, and let God teach you, train you, and prepare you for good works in the future.
Third, understand that God has already worked out a plan for your life. That is what Scripture means when it says “God hath before ordained…” The plan for your life is already set up. However, it is up to us to remain committed to that plan and to not rebel against God’s working out of that plan in our lives. Wiersbe comments, “This is an amazing statement. It means that God has a plan for our lives and that we should walk in His will and fulfill His plan. [This passage] is talking about the gracious plan of a loving heavenly Father, who wills the very best for us.”
Yes, even in the midst of good days and bad days, celebrations and tragedies, weddings and funerals, life and death, God is working out the very best for us. We may not always see the outcome of that plan. Many negative things will happen that will make us question whether the plan is really good. Circumstances will sometimes tempt us to walk in a way that we know is not God’s will. However, we can overcome everything that we face in the new year if we stop now and throughout the year to ask God to prepare us for what may come.
God, prepare us for good days and bad days,
prepare us for celebrations and tragedies,
prepare us for weddings and funerals,
prepare us for life and death.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Now, if you are with us today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, allow me to show you how you can place your faith and trust in Him for Salvation from sin and Hell.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 