Ephesians 1&2

Father, you made your grace abound toward me in all wisdom and prudence. You have made known to me, and to all who will look, the majesty of your will. It suited your good pleasure to gather together all who were yours, whether Jew or Gentile, and to make us one new people.

You do this by bringing us into faith in Jesus as your Messiah and our Lord. You, through your spirit and your word, show us our sin. You give us a clear understanding of our treason against you.

We did not excuse our ourselves, and instead we confess our sin. You forgive us and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. You grant us repentance, and we are enabled to turn from our own way and to turn toward your way.

You give us the gift of your Holy Spirit, who births a new man with a divine nature in us. So we have new desires, desires to obey and to serve, desires to be a part of our Lord’s body, the church.

So now, by faith, we, all who you have called and chosen, have redemption through the blood of Jesus, and we have divine righteousness through Jesus’ righteous life. Thank you, Father, for your grace, and your gift, and your glory.