Sarah K. Howley's Blog

Awe & Wonder: A December (or anytime!) Invitation
As the year draws to a close and the season of Advent unfolds, we’re surrounded by beauty, light, and sacred story. But in the midst of the rush, it’s easy to miss the wonder. December invites us to slow down—not to do more, but to notice. To open our eyes and hearts in awe at what God has done, is doing, and has promised still to come.

Scripture is full of wonder. From the vastness of creation to the miracle of the Incarnation, awe is not reserved for mountaintop moments—it’s a daily invitation. When we read the psalms, the Gospels, or the prophets, we see a God who moves with majesty and nearness. And we’re invited not just to observe it, but to respond with reverence, praise, and joy.

This month’s reading plan walks through passages that stir holy wonder—both at who God is and how He meets us. Whether it’s the stars above, the quiet of the manger, or the words of Christ, may this journey draw your gaze upward and inward. Let’s finish the year with hearts turned toward awe.

The Awe & Wonder Bible Reading Plan is available as a free download for subscribers. If you already follow us, check your latest newsletter for access. If not, you’re warmly invited to join us and gain access to the full library of resources.

Over the past weeks, we’ve walked through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We’ve seen how God’s grace shapes our identity, unites His church, and equips us for spiritual battle.

But Paul doesn’t leave us with abstract theology. He presses the gospel into the places where life happens: homes, workplaces, and communities. Ephesians is a letter about how to live in God’s power every day, especially in relationships.

Key Themes to Carry Forward

1. Identity in Christ (Ephesians 1).
You are chosen, adopted, redeemed, and sealed. Your life begins and ends with who God says you are. Free PDF

2. Grace Through Faith (Ephesians 2).
Salvation is God’s gift, not our achievement. And He has prepared good works for us to walk in.

3. Unity in the Body (Ephesians 2–4).
Christ has broken down dividing walls. The church is a family of diverse people called into one Spirit.

4. Relationships Shaped by the Gospel (Ephesians 5–6).

Marriage: Love and respect modeled after Christ’s love for the church.

Family: Obedience and encouragement rooted in the Lord.

Work: Integrity and service as if working for Christ Himself.

5. Strength for the Battle (Ephesians 6).
God equips us with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word. We are not powerless. Free PDF

Why Relationships Matter in Ephesians

Paul’s teaching shows us that living in God’s power isn’t just a private matter of faith. It’s meant to be displayed in the everyday:

In how we treat our spouse.

In how we raise our children.

In how we work with integrity.

In how we build unity in the church.

The gospel is lived out in ordinary spaces, through love, humility, and faithfulness.

Living Forward: How to Keep Ephesians Alive in Daily Life

Root yourself in identity. Start each day remembering who you are in Christ.

Extend grace. Let forgiveness and patience guide your relationships.

Seek unity. Choose peace over division in your community.

Honor Christ at home and work. Let love and respect shape your closest ties.

Stand firm. Put on the armor of God when life feels heavy.

Reflection Questions

Which relationship in my life most needs to be reshaped by Christ?

How can I keep unity and grace alive in my community?

What daily practice can I carry forward from this study?

5-Day Ephesians Introduction Study

This blog series may be wrapping up, but you can keep growing. My 5-day study of Ephesians includes short daily videos and reflection questions to help you continue living in God’s power. Sign up for the free study

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

If you’re ready for a full, structured journey through all six chapters, my book Ephesians: Experience God’s Power is designed to guide you. With 8 sessions, reflection questions, and practical application, it’s perfect for individuals or groups. Get your copy here

Related Posts

Marriage & Relationships in Ephesians 5

Identity in Everyday Life: Work, Home, and Church

Word of the Year: Fruitful

I thought fruitfulness was going to look like growth.
More clarity. More confidence. More visible results.
Instead, this year has felt like a cutting back.

There are things I was sure would bloom—projects, ideas, habits, even parts of myself I was hopeful about. But they didn’t. Either I got in my own way, or God, in His kindness, slowed me down. Maybe both. What I’ve come to realize is that a year of fruitfulness didn’t mean uninterrupted growth. It meant preparation. Realignment. Pruning.

Because we know God is always moving. And if I haven’t seen the kind of fruit I hoped for, maybe it’s because He’s still working beneath the surface. Maybe He’s laying a foundation I couldn’t have built while trying to do it all. Maybe He’s been growing something I just can’t see yet.

“Every branch that does bear fruit…” (John 15:2)

Jesus said something that’s easy to skip over:

“Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.”

I used to read this as discipline. A kind of correction.
But now I see it as care.

He prunes what’s alive. What’s already bearing fruit. He doesn’t cut to punish—He cuts to shape. And if pruning has been part of this year, maybe it’s a sign that something was already growing. Something He wanted to protect and strengthen.

When Pruning Feels Like Loss

Pruning doesn’t feel fruitful.
It feels like disappointment. Like stepping back. Like waiting longer than you wanted to.

It felt that way for me. I got caught in a loop of comparison and anxiety, measuring myself against other people’s pace and progress. I questioned why things I had been faithful to weren’t showing visible results. I spiraled into wondering if I was missing it—if everyone else was bearing fruit while I stood still.

But maybe what felt like failure was actually a careful cutting away. A clearing of what was crowding out deeper growth.

Sometimes God prunes distractions. Sometimes He removes opportunities. Sometimes He simply says, “Not yet.”

And that, too, is fruitfulness—just not the kind that shows up on the surface.

What Pruning Makes Possible

The beautiful, frustrating truth about pruning is that it makes space.
Space for clarity. For rootedness. For healthy growth.

I’ve started to see it like this: Pruning is a gesture of faith. It says, “I believe something better can grow here.”

We may not always choose it, but we can learn to welcome it. Because the fruit God wants to grow in us—patience, humility, gentleness, depth—often comes through what He removes, not just what He gives.

And just like in the natural world, you don’t prune dying branches. You prune healthy ones so the plant doesn’t burn out trying to grow too much too fast.

Maybe that’s what this year has been.

Even the things Cut Back Count

If fruitfulness in God’s kingdom doesn’t always look like outward success, then this year still matters. The unseen softening. The quiet realignment. The letting go. The waiting.

That’s not a lack of growth.
That’s the kind of fruit only the Vinedresser sees right now.
And it’s enough.

A Prayer

Lord,
If You’re pruning me, I trust it’s because You love me.
Thank You for shaping me—even when it means letting go of things I thought I needed.
Help me stop fighting for growth that doesn’t come from You.
Make space in me for what You want to grow next.
Amen.

Reflection Questions

What has God gently—or unexpectedly—cut back in my life this year?

Where have I confused loss with failure, when it might actually be preparation?

What kind of fruit might God be preparing me to carry next?

How can I embrace pruning as part of His loving care?

It’s one thing to know our identity in Christ in theory. It’s another to live it out in the rhythms of everyday life. In Ephesians 4–6, Paul turns from theology to practice, showing how our identity transforms relationships at home, responsibilities at work, and unity in the church.

For Paul, identity in Christ isn’t just a Sunday idea. It’s a reality meant to shape everything we do, every relationship we have, and every place we walk.

Identity at Home

Paul writes directly to households in Ephesians 5–6: husbands and wives, children and parents. Each relationship is reframed by the gospel.

Husbands and wives: Love and respect are rooted in Christ’s sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:21–33).

Children and parents: Obedience and encouragement flow from a shared commitment to the Lord (Ephesians 6:1–4).

When we remember our identity as chosen, adopted children of God, it reshapes how we relate to the people closest to us. Home becomes a place to live out grace, patience, and love.

Identity at Work

Paul also addresses servants and masters (Ephesians 6:5–9). While the social context is very different today, the principle applies: our work is an opportunity to serve Christ.

Work with integrity: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord” (6:7).

Lead with justice and respect: Those in authority must remember they answer to God too.

Whether you’re at a desk, in a classroom, on a job site, or managing a household, your identity in Christ gives purpose to your work. It’s not just about a paycheck — it’s about glorifying God in the everyday.

Identity in the Church

Ephesians 4 emphasizes that believers are part of one body, each gifted for the good of the whole. Our identity in Christ is not only personal but communal.

Unity matters. Identity means we no longer divide along cultural or social lines but live as one family.

Gifts matter. God has given each believer spiritual gifts to build up the church.

Growth matters. Identity calls us to maturity, speaking truth in love and growing into Christ, the Head.

The church becomes the place where we practice our identity together — serving, encouraging, and strengthening one another.

Why This Matters

It’s easy to compartmentalize faith, keeping it separate from work, home, or community life. But Ephesians shows us that identity in Christ touches everything.

At home, identity transforms love and respect.

At work, identity gives purpose to ordinary tasks.

In the church, identity builds unity and maturity.

This is the gospel lived out in everyday rhythms.

Reflection Questions

How does my identity in Christ affect my closest relationships?

What difference does it make in how I approach work?

How am I using my gifts to build up the church?

5-Day Ephesians Introduction

Want to put identity into practice? My 5-day study of Ephesians for free includes daily short videos and guided reflections to help you live out these truths. Sign up for the study

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

Identity in everyday life is one of Ephesians’ most practical themes. My book, Ephesians: Experience God’s Power, is an 8-session guided study designed to help you explore each chapter and apply it personally. Get your copy here

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Who Does God Say I Am? Identity in Ephesians 1

Walking in Wisdom: Practical Living from Ephesians 5

Some truths are too big to be discovered by human effort. They must be revealed by God. In Ephesians 3, Paul speaks about a “mystery” that was hidden for ages but has now been made known through Christ.

This mystery is not a puzzle to be solved but a truth to be celebrated: in Christ, Jews and Gentiles are united as one body. The good news of salvation is for all people, not just a chosen few.

What Is the Mystery of Christ?

Paul writes: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

For centuries, Israel had been God’s chosen nation. But through Christ, God’s plan widened to embrace all nations. The dividing wall was torn down (Ephesians 2:14), and now everyone who believes in Jesus has equal access to the Father.

Why This Was So Radical

In Paul’s world, Jews and Gentiles lived with deep divisions. Religious, cultural, and social barriers kept them apart. To declare that they were now one body in Christ was revolutionary.

Paul himself was a living example of this mystery. Once a persecutor of the church, he became the “apostle to the Gentiles,” proclaiming the gospel to those once considered outsiders.

The Mystery Today: Unity in Diversity

The mystery revealed in Ephesians still speaks powerfully today. The church is meant to be a diverse, unified family that reflects God’s wisdom to the world (Ephesians 3:10).

This means:

The gospel is for every culture, language, and nation.

There is no room for pride or division in the body of Christ.

Our unity is not uniformity — diversity shows the richness of God’s plan.

Living in the Mystery

Paul doesn’t just explain the mystery — he prays that believers would grasp the depth of God’s love (Ephesians 3:14–19). Living in the mystery means experiencing God’s love personally and extending it to others.

Practical ways to live this out:

Celebrate diversity. Look for ways your church can reflect God’s global family.

Build bridges. Reach out across cultural, generational, or social divides.

Pray Paul’s prayer. Ask to be rooted and grounded in God’s love.

Live on mission. Remember that the gospel is for everyone — share it with boldness.

Reflection Questions

How does the “mystery of Christ” expand my view of the gospel?

Where in my life do I need to pursue unity with others who are different from me?

How can I join God’s mission of making this mystery known?

5-Day Ephesians Introduction Study

The mystery of Christ is best understood by experiencing it. My free 5-day study of Ephesians includes daily short videos and reflections to help you live out these truths. Sign up for the study

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

Unity in diversity is a central theme of Ephesians. My book, Ephesians: Experience God’s Power, is an 8-session guided study with reflection questions and real-life applications. Get your copy here

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Unity in the Body: What Ephesians Teaches About Church Life

By Grace Through Faith: Understanding Ephesians 2:8–10

Coming home this weekend after a short trip, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude—not for something grand, but for something simple: being home. The safety of the return, the peace of familiar walls, the small mercies waiting for me in my own space. And I realized—it was God who brought us back safely. God who watched over what we left behind. And God who reminds me that home isn’t just a place, but a presence. In Him, I’m truly at home.

It struck me how often I forget to thank Him for things like this. Not because I’m ungrateful—but because they’re so regular, so normal, that they fade into the background. But God’s goodness doesn’t require grandeur to be worthy of thanks.

The Practice of Giving Thanks

Thankfulness isn’t just something we feel when good things happen. It’s a posture—a way of seeing the world and responding to it with trust.

Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). That doesn’t mean we’re thankful for everything. But we are invited to be thankful in everything—to notice God’s nearness, goodness, and provision, even in the in-between spaces of life. That is what makes it a practice.

Thankfulness isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a quiet breath, a whispered acknowledgment, a still moment of awareness: God, You’re here. And I’m grateful.

What We Often Forget

There are so many things we forget to thank God for.

A good night’s sleep. Clean water. Safe travel. Food that nourishes. A moment of laughter. The right word at the right time. Even the ability to get up and do ordinary things. These are gifts we overlook, because they don’t always seem extraordinary. But they are.

The truth is, we can’t thank God for what we don’t notice. So the practice of thankfulness begins with attentiveness—with slowing down long enough to see the goodness that’s already there.

And when we start seeing it, we realize how present He’s been all along. And it is so easy to be thankful to Him.

Jesus Gave Thanks Often

Jesus modeled a life of thankfulness, not just in major moments but in daily rhythms. He gave thanks before meals (John 6:11). He thanked the Father in public prayer (John 11:41). He praised God for revealing truth, even amid rejection (Matthew 11:25–26).

His gratitude was woven into a life of dependence and communion with the Father. It wasn’t conditional—it was relational. And we’re invited into that same rhythm.

Learning to Practice Thankfulness

The more we practice giving thanks, the more natural it becomes.

Maybe you pause before dinner and say a real, quiet thank You. Maybe you start a list of small joys—a cool breeze, a kind word, a candle flickering on the counter. Maybe you whisper thanks while folding laundry or walking the dog.

Not everything in life feels worthy of celebration. But the practice of thankfulness doesn’t require everything to be good. It just calls us to trust that God is.

And that trust changes us. Gratitude softens our hearts. It draws our attention to God’s presence. It helps us live with open hands and an expectant spirit. It reminds us that He is faithful.

Even in the ordinary. Especially in the ordinary.

A Prayer for Thankfulness

Lord, I don’t want to overlook Your goodness. Help me see what I’ve forgotten to thank You for.
Teach me to slow down and notice, to trace Your fingerprints in the small moments.
Fill my heart with gratitude, not just when life is easy, but even when it’s quiet, uncertain, or mundane.
Let thankfulness become the way I walk with You. Amen.

Reflection Question:
What’s one simple gift you often forget to thank God for? How might you begin to notice it this week?

This post is part of our Spiritual Practices series. For November, we’ve created a prayer-based gratitude plan—30 overlooked things to thank God for. You can download it for free in the resource library by subscribing below.

Ephesians is a letter filled with big theological truths, but Paul never leaves them in the abstract. Again and again, he connects doctrine to daily life. In Ephesians 5, he turns from what God has done for us in Christ to how we should live in response.

At the heart of this chapter is the call to “walk in wisdom” (Ephesians 5:15). To walk in wisdom means living with intentionality, reflecting Christ in every area of life, and making the most of the time God has given us.

What Does It Mean to Walk in Wisdom?

Paul writes: “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16).

Wisdom here isn’t just knowledge. It’s skill in living — applying God’s truth to everyday choices. Walking in wisdom means:

Living intentionally instead of drifting.

Choosing holiness over compromise.

Reflecting Christ in words, actions, and relationships.

Three Marks of Walking in Wisdom

1. Walking in Love (Ephesians 5:1–2).
Paul begins this chapter with the call to imitate God’s love: “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” Wisdom is shown through sacrificial love — choosing kindness, service, and grace.

2. Walking in Light (Ephesians 5:8–10).
Paul reminds the church: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Walking in wisdom means avoiding the fruitless deeds of darkness and pursuing truth, righteousness, and goodness.

3. Walking in the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–20).
Instead of being controlled by wine, Paul calls believers to be filled with the Spirit. This leads to worship, gratitude, and mutual encouragement. Wisdom means letting the Spirit shape every part of life.

Why Wisdom Matters

For the church in Ephesus, surrounded by idolatry and cultural pressure, wisdom was essential for staying faithful. The same is true today. We live in a world full of distraction, temptation, and division. Wisdom helps us navigate with clarity and confidence.

Paul’s words are a reminder: our choices matter. Every day is an opportunity to reflect Christ to the world.

Practical Ways to Walk in Wisdom

Redeem the time. Ask: how can I use today for God’s glory?

Guard your influences. Fill your mind with Scripture, prayer, and worship.

Practice gratitude. A thankful heart is a wise heart.

Invest in relationships. Build unity, love, and encouragement in your community.

Ask for wisdom. James 1:5 reminds us that God gives generously when we ask.

Reflection Questions

Which area — love, light, or Spirit — do I most need to grow in?

How am I using my time to reflect Christ?

Who in my life could I encourage today with wisdom and love?

5-Day Ephesians VIDEO Study

If you’d like a structured way to grow in wisdom, my free 5-day study of Ephesians includes daily short videos and reflections.

Sign up for the study

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

Wisdom is one of Ephesians’ central themes. My book, Ephesians: Experience God’s Power, is an 8-session guided study with reflection questions and practical applications.

Get your copy here

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Unity in the Body: What Ephesians Teaches About Church Life

The Armor of God: Practical Steps from Ephesians 6

Most of Paul’s letters begin with thanksgiving or encouragement. But in Ephesians, he does something unusual: he begins with worship. In Ephesians 1:3–14, Paul bursts into a hymn of praise, declaring the spiritual blessings believers have in Christ.

Instead of starting with what we should do, Paul starts with what God has already done. This long sentence in the original Greek is a cascade of joy — a reminder that salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.

These blessings aren’t material comforts. They are eternal treasures — gifts from God that define our story and fuel our worship.

The Trinity in Salvation

Paul’s hymn of praise highlights the work of each member of the Trinity:

The Father chooses and adopts us (Ephesians 1:3–6). Before the foundation of the world, God set His love on His people.

The Son redeems and forgives us (Ephesians 1:7–12). Through Christ’s blood, we are freed from sin and given an eternal inheritance.

The Spirit seals and guarantees our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14). The Spirit’s presence is a down payment that we belong to God forever.

This passage is a Trinitarian symphony of grace — each Person of God at work in saving and securing His people.

Blessings That Fuel Worship

Spiritual blessings aren’t abstract ideas; they are realities that lead to praise. Paul begins with the phrase: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Ephesians 1:3).

These blessings move us to worship because they remind us:

We are not accidents — we were chosen.

We are not abandoned — we are adopted.

We are not condemned — we are forgiven.

We are not insecure — we are sealed.

Paul can’t help but worship because these truths are too great to keep quiet.

How to Live in Spiritual Blessings

Knowing these blessings is only the beginning. Paul’s prayer later in chapter 1 is that believers would grasp and experience them more deeply. Here are some ways to do that:

Practice gratitude daily. Start your prayers by thanking God for one spiritual blessing.

Turn blessings into worship. Read Ephesians 1:3–14 out loud as a hymn of praise.

Journal the blessings. Write out the list of blessings and note how each speaks to your life.

Pray through the Trinity. Thank the Father for adoption, the Son for redemption, and the Spirit for sealing you.

Reflection Questions

How does it change my view of worship to see it rooted in God’s blessings?

Which part of the Trinity’s work in Ephesians 1 stands out most to me?

How can I turn these blessings into daily habits of gratitude?

Free Identity in Christ PDF

To help you meditate on these truths, I created a free printable list of identity verses from Ephesians 1. It’s a practical way to keep these blessings in front of you as you worship and pray.

Download the Identity in Christ PDF

And for a guided experience, join my free 5-day Ephesians study. Each day includes a short video and reflection questions to help you walk through these themes. Sign up for the study

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

Paul’s hymn of blessings is only the opening of this powerful letter. My book, Ephesians: Experience God’s Power, is an 8-session guided study that walks through all six chapters with Scripture questions and real-life application. Get your copy here

Few passages spark as much discussion as Ephesians 5:21–33, where Paul writes about marriage. Some read these verses and bristle at the language of submission. Others highlight the beauty of sacrificial love. To really understand this passage, we need to look at Paul’s words in context and see how they point us to Christ.

Rather than being restrictive or outdated, Ephesians 5 offers a radical vision for relationships. It calls husbands and wives to live out the gospel through love, respect, and unity. At its heart, this passage is about mutual self-giving — a model that can shape not only marriage but every relationship.

The Cultural Context of Marriage in Ephesus

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, the Roman household code was the standard. Husbands held almost absolute authority, wives were expected to obey without question, and marriage was often more about property and honor than partnership.

Against this backdrop, Paul’s words were revolutionary. Instead of reinforcing cultural norms, he re-centered marriage on Christ. Husbands were not told to dominate but to love sacrificially. Wives were not reduced to silent obedience but invited into a relationship marked by mutual respect. The call to mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21) was radical in a world where hierarchy ruled.

Mutual Submission: The Starting Point

Before Paul addresses husbands and wives specifically, he sets the stage: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).

Submission here is not about losing identity or worth. It’s about voluntarily choosing humility, service, and love. Mutual submission means both husband and wife prioritize each other’s needs, seeking to build up rather than tear down.

This principle doesn’t end at the household. It’s a model for all Christian relationships. In friendships, family, and church life, believers are called to put one another first.

Husbands: Love as Christ Loved the Church

Paul devotes more words to husbands than to wives. Why? Because his challenge to men was groundbreaking: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

This is a call to sacrificial love. Christ laid down His life for the church, not because she was perfect, but to make her holy. Likewise, husbands are called to lay down pride, selfishness, and control to love their wives selflessly.

This kind of leadership is not about power but about service. It mirrors Jesus, who washed His disciples’ feet and laid down His life.

Wives: Respect and Honor

Paul writes, “The wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). In a culture where wives were often undervalued, Paul lifts up their role in creating a relationship of unity. Respect here is about honoring, encouraging, and affirming — not blind obedience.

When a wife respects her husband, she builds him up in Christ. When a husband loves his wife sacrificially, he mirrors Christ’s love. Together, love and respect create a rhythm of unity that reflects the gospel.

Common Misunderstandings

This passage has sometimes been misused to justify control, dominance, or even abuse. That is not Paul’s intent. The model here is Christ, who laid down His rights and poured Himself out in love.

Biblical submission is not about erasing value or voice. It is about choosing humility for the sake of unity. When both husband and wife live this way, the relationship becomes a picture of the gospel — marked by mutual flourishing, not suppression.

Beyond Marriage: The Wider Call

Though these verses speak directly to husbands and wives, the principles extend to all relationships. Paul’s vision of mutual submission, sacrificial love, and honoring respect applies to:

Friendships — Choosing encouragement over competition.

Family life — Practicing patience and forgiveness with parents, siblings, or children.

Church community — Using gifts to serve one another, not to seek status.

In every relationship, Ephesians calls us to reflect Christ.

Practical Ways to Live This Out

Practice daily humility. Begin each day asking: “How can I put others before myself today?”

Show love through service. Husbands, look for practical ways to lighten your wife’s load. Wives, find ways to affirm and encourage your husband’s strengths.

Listen first. In any relationship, commit to listening before responding.

Pray for one another. Regular prayer builds unity and softens hearts.

Seek reconciliation quickly. Unity is protected when we forgive and restore relationships without delay.

Reflection Questions

How does the idea of mutual submission challenge or encourage me?

What would sacrificial love look like in my closest relationships this week?

How can I practice respect and honor in my daily interactions?

A Prayer for Relationships

“Lord, thank You for the gift of relationships. Teach me to love with Christlike humility, to respect and honor others, and to walk in unity. Help me reflect the gospel in my marriage, family, friendships, and church community. Amen.”

5-Day Ephesians Study with Daily Videos

If you want to explore themes like unity, identity, and relationships in Ephesians, my 5-day free email study is a great next step. Each day includes a short video and Scripture reflections. Sign up here 

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

This post is just one piece of Ephesians’ wisdom for daily life. My book, Ephesians: Experience God’s Power, is an 8-session guided study with Scripture questions and practical applications. It’s designed for individuals or groups who want to live out God’s Word together. Get your copy here 

Division is nothing new. In the first century, the church in Ephesus faced cultural, religious, and ethnic divides. Paul wrote to remind them that Christ had broken down the wall of hostility and made them one body. His call for unity in Ephesians still speaks powerfully today.

Unity in Christ: The Foundation

Paul explains in Ephesians 2:14 that Christ “has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” He was talking about Jews and Gentiles — two groups historically at odds. In Christ, both were welcomed into God’s family.

Unity in the church is not about agreement on everything. It’s about shared identity in Christ. We are one body, with one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:4–5).

The Call to Keep Unity

In Ephesians 4:3, Paul says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Notice he doesn’t say “create unity” — that’s already done by Christ. Our role is to protect and nurture it.

Unity requires humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Ephesians 4:2). It means putting aside pride and selfish ambition to pursue peace.

What Unity Is — and Isn’t

Unity is not uniformity. Believers will have different gifts, perspectives, and backgrounds.

Unity is not avoiding conflict. True unity addresses issues with love rather than ignoring them.

Unity is not optional. It’s central to our witness in the world.

Why Unity Matters

Jesus prayed for His followers to be one (John 17). When believers live in unity, the world sees a reflection of God’s reconciling love. Division, on the other hand, weakens our witness.

In a divided culture, the church’s unity becomes a testimony to the power of the gospel.

Practical Ways to Pursue Unity

Pray for your church. Ask God to protect relationships and grow love.

Value diversity. Celebrate different gifts and perspectives as part of the body.

Forgive quickly. Don’t let bitterness take root.

Serve together. Shared mission strengthens unity.

Speak words of encouragement. Build up instead of tearing down.

Reflection Questions

Where do I see division hindering relationships in my church?

How can I personally “make every effort” to protect unity?

What steps can I take to show humility and gentleness this week?

A Prayer for Unity

“Lord, thank You that Christ has broken down every dividing wall. Help me to walk in humility, love, and patience. Strengthen Your church to live in unity so the world may see Your love.”

5-Day Ephesians Introduction

For a deeper look at themes like unity, identity, and spiritual strength, join my $5 and 5-day Ephesians Introduction study. Each day includes a short video and guided reflection. Sign up here 

Go Deeper with the Ephesians Bible Study

My book, Ephesians: Experience God’s Power, is an 8-session guided study designed to help you walk through the whole letter with Scripture reflections and applications for life. Get your copy here