HIS DWELLING PLACE
Ephesians 3:16-21
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love – Ephesians 3:17
Paul’s prayer was for believers to experience something deeper: that Christ would fully live His life in and through us. As Galatians 2:20 reminds us, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” This truth is vital because it is possible to forget that we are His dwelling place, treating Him as though He were only a guest in one small room of our hearts. Yet Christ desires to occupy the whole house—our entire life—because it belongs to Him, not to us.
When we truly recognise that we are His dwelling place, we begin to grasp the greatness of His love. Rooted and established in that love, we learn to love Him and others as we ought. This love surpasses human understanding: it is patient, kind, humble, forgiving, hopeful, and enduring through every circumstance. One of the clearest marks of a life that is His dwelling place is found in John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The question then remains: Is your life His dwelling place?
Prayer:
Father, help me to be rooted and grounded in love.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 40 Exodus 4; -Exo 6;1-12; Matt 26;31-46; Proverbs 4;10-9
SAVED TO SERVE
Ephesians 4:7-12
For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ – Ephesians 4:12.
Our key verse this morning is verse 12, which emphasises the role of leaders in the body of Christ. Leadership is not limited to pastors or elders; in fact, all of us are leaders in one way or another. The moment you have one or two people who listen to you, you carry influence, and that influence should be used to train and guide others. Scripture teaches that leaders are to equip believers so that they, in turn, can teach and train others. This process of equipping enables every Christian to carry out works of ministry and promotes spiritual growth within the church.
This growth comes through the “equipping of the saints.” The Greek word for “equip” conveys the idea of making someone complete, perfect, or fit for a purpose. Leaders are therefore called to raise other leaders under them, helping them to use their God-given gifts, both spiritual and physical, effectively. These gifts are not for personal gain but for the work of ministry, which is the service every believer performs to build up the church. The church often functions as the factory where this equipping takes place, producing maturity and edification in the body of Christ. You too can be part of this process. Begin by serving in your local church, using your gifts for God’s glory. In doing so, you join in the great work of equipping others and strengthening the body of Christ.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the privilege to serve and inspire others in Your kingdom.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 41 Exodus 6;13-30; Exo.8;Matt 26; 47-68;Psalm 19;7-14
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Ephesians 4:13-15, 1 Corinthians 3:1–4
That we should no longer be Children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting – Ephesians 4:14.
Spiritual growth, or maturity, is what God desires for every believer. This truth becomes evident when we look at the state of the church and our lives today, just as Paul observed in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. True maturity is found in the unity of faith in Christ and in the knowledge of Him. It is not limited to outward practices but encompasses all spiritual things. We are called to grow deeper and deeper into Christ until we attain His fullness. This is God’s ultimate plan for His church, and He will bring it to completion.
The need for spiritual growth is greater now than ever. Scripture points out several reasons: we are often slow to understand spiritual truths (Hebrews 5:11), we continue to struggle with the basic teachings of our faith (Hebrews 6:1), and many still wrestle with malice, deceit, envy, hypocrisy, evil speaking, and a lack of desire for the pure milk of the word that produces growth. For maturity to be achieved, intentional effort must be made. As Colossians 4:12 reminds us, “Epaphras, who is one of you, always laboring fervently for you… that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” Spiritual growth requires diligence, prayer, and a hunger for God’s Word. It is the mark of a believer who has moved beyond spiritual childhood into maturity. The question remains: are you still among the “children” in the church, or are you growing into maturity in Christ?
Prayer
Father, cause me to come to maturity in Jesus’ name.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 42 Exodus 9,-Exo.10; Matt 26;69-75; Matt 27;1-10 Psalm20;1-9
HOW WE SHOULD GROW
Ephesians 4:13-15, 2 Peter 1:5-8.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:8
As believers, we are called to prioritise spiritual disciplines such as Bible study, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and serving others in love. These practices are not optional; they are essential for building a deeper relationship with God and developing a mature faith. Regularly applying biblical truth, repenting of sin, and living in accountability with others help us grow steadily in Christ. When we pursue these disciplines with intentionality, we begin to notice transformation in our lives. Day by day, we add to our faith the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 and manifest them in our character and actions.
Discipline is vital because spiritual growth is progressive, not static. Scripture illustrates this growth beautifully: we are to grow like tender lilies (Hosea 14:5), stand firm like the cedar in its strength (Psalm 92:12), and flourish like a fruitful branch (Hosea 14:7). Yet this growth requires intentionality. Just as a plant must be rooted in good soil, watered, and protected from pests, so must believers be planted in the right environment, where they are nurtured by God’s word, strengthened through fellowship, and pruned by His Spirit. Psalm 84:5-7 reminds us that the journey of growth continues until we appear before God in Zion. Spiritual maturity is never complete in this life; it is a lifelong pursuit. Therefore, remain intentional, disciplined, and rooted in Christ, allowing Him to cultivate His fullness in you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, grant me the disciplines & intentionality for growth. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 43 Exodu11,-Exo,12; Matthew 27;11-44; Psalm 21;1-7
LIFE WITHOUT CHRIST
Ephesians 4:17-24
In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, that spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience – Ephesians 2:2.
Life without Christ is the worst state a human can be in. The word Christ means “Anointed” in Greek and “Messiah” in Hebrew, and this title belongs only to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Yet many today run from pillar to post searching for solutions, but remain restless because Christ is missing from their lives. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:17-24 that those who live apart from Christ walk in the futility of their minds, darkened in understanding, and separated from the life of God.
A life without Christ is spiritually dead, enslaved to the world, the flesh, and Satan. It is a life in danger, like a lost sheep (Luke 15:4–6), and useless, like a rotten tree that cannot bear fruit (Matthew 7:18). Such a life is without hope. But Jesus declares in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” To live in Christ is to put off the old self, corrupted by deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. It is to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The question is clear and urgent: Do you have Christ Jesus in your life? Without Him, there is only crisis. With Him, there is light, hope, and the fullness of life.
Prayer
Invite Jesus into your life right now if you aren’t born again. Pray for the salvation of those around you.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 44 Exodus 13; -Exo.14; Matt 27;45-66; Proverbs4;20-27
ACKNOWLEDGING THE GOOD WITHIN YOU
Philemon 1:3-7
That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you on Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6
As a Christian, you are not empty—you carry within you the very life of God, the highest form of life that exists. You have been raised with Christ and seated in heavenly places, far above principalities and powers. Scripture reminds us that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. This truth is not just about your eternal destiny; it also transforms the quality of life you experience here and now. But for it to have full effect, you must acknowledge the treasures God has placed inside you.
Paul, in Philemon 1:6, prayed that the “sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” In other words, your faith will not produce results until you recognise and affirm the divine qualities within you. Look beyond your lack, struggles, stormy circumstances, family challenges, business pressures, or wavering faith. Philemon 1:7 further highlights that encouragement and love bring joy and refresh the hearts of believers. When you acknowledge the good within you, you not only grow personally but also refresh others in Christ. Begin to acknowledge every good thing in you by speaking it out, meditating on it, and living it. As you do, your faith becomes more effective in handling life’s issues, and others are strengthened by your testimony.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, let the sharing of my faith continue to be effective as you help me to acknowledge every good thing within me. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 45 Exodus 15; -Exo 16; Matt 28;1-20; Psalm 21;8-13
YOUR CONSENT IS REQUIRED
Philemon 1:10-14
But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. Philemon 1:14
God is not a gate crasher, nor is He a thief who forces His will, way, or purposes upon anyone. He has a specific plan and will for your life, but that plan will not come to fruition without your consent. Scripture makes it clear that it is the devil, described in John 10:10a as the thief, who intrudes and gate-crashes into people’s lives to steal, kill, and destroy. In contrast, God works with your willingness and cooperation. This truth is illustrated in Paul’s letter to Philemon. Paul explained that he would not act without Philemon’s consent. Onesimus, once unprofitable, had been transformed and was now valuable to Paul. Sending him back to Philemon as a changed man would also bring blessing and value to Philemon. Yet, despite the obvious goodness of this outcome, Paul did not act immediately; he sought Philemon’s approval. This shows that even when something is good, consent is necessary.
The same principle applies to our relationship with God. His plans and will for us are always good, as revealed in His Word. However, the goodness of His plan does not mean He will override our will. He waits for our agreement, our surrender, and our consent. Only then can His purposes be fully realised in our lives. You need to check and ascertain the area of your life where you are not cooperating with God for transformation.
Prayer
Lord, I give you my consent. Act in my life however you want to and let Your perfect will be established in my life. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 46 Exodus17; -Exo.18; Mark 1;1-28; Psalm 22;1-11