God's gifts provide eternal security, hope, and joy—even when circumstances seem bleak. Ephesians 1:3-14 We all face difficult times, and when we’re in the midst of them, we may feel as though God isn’t blessing us. But even in the midst of hard times, we experience many of His amazing gifts; we just have to open our eyes to them. Below are several examples of blessings that we can enjoy on bright or dark days: • We are assured that our almighty God chose us before the foundation of the world and predestined us to be adopted as His children ( Eph. 1:4-5 ).  • Jesus Christ redeemed us, providing salvation through His death and resurrection (v. 7). As a result, believers receive a brand-new nature and daily forgiveness ( 2 Cor. 5:17 ;  1 John 1:9 ).  • The Holy Spirit resides within all who trust in the Savior. He guides, warns, and fills us so we are never without counsel or comfort. He also seals us so that our eternity is secure ( Eph. 1:13 ).  • Our Father prepares an inheritan

  Our heavenly Father will always lovingly and joyfully welcome repentant wanderers. Luke 15:20-32 When we insist on going our own way, God will let us—much like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Our heavenly Father will not force us to remain with Him. So, what happens if we move outside of God’s plan?  Our fellowship with the Father is significantly affected.  The prodigal son was no longer in close contact with his dad; their relationship was not as important to him as it once had been. If we wander from the Lord, we will also experience a disconnect with our heavenly Father.  Our resources—time, talent, and treasure—are wasted.  The wayward son squandered his money on frivolous things and ended up worse off than the laborers at his father’s house. In the same way, God gives us spiritual gifts, resources, and guidance to build His kingdom, but pursuing our own plan wastes what He has given us.  Our deepest needs go unmet.  Chasing after dreams that don’t align with God’

  In a world that lures us to always want more, we can easily drift into a self-centered mindset. Luke 15:11-19 How did the Prodigal Son’s journey begin? Perhaps he wanted to leave behind the restrictions that come with living under a parent’s roof. Or maybe he wanted money to pursue life’s pleasures with friends. Whatever the case, the prodigal son’s desire emboldened him to prematurely ask for his inheritance and then to abandon home and the things he’d been taught.  A Christian who has turned away from God might follow a similar path. First, we begin with a craving for something other than what we have. The longer we allow the idea to linger, the stronger our desire is to have it—and we eventually find ways to justify what we want. Then, based on that faulty reasoning, we move toward our own self-centered goals. Like the wayward son, we may enjoy the pleasures of the world for a time, but ultimately, we will find ourselves lacking certain essentials: unconditional love, security, an

  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 Almost every reward or compensation in this life is reckoned on the basis of works: final scores in sports, annual sales numbers, academic grades, and promotions in the business world. Occasionally we encounter grace in the secular world, but not nearly as often as being rewarded for works. Read Through: 2 Timothy 1: 9 Grace was not unknown in the Old Testament—it is mentioned 18 times—but it became a major theme in the New Testament (119 mentions). Thus, it was a surprising idea to both Jews and Gentiles alike when Paul—the apostle of grace—taught that we are not saved by our works but by grace alone: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). And what a relief! For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If our salvation were based on our wo

God empowers and equips every believer who trusts Him enough to act on His Word. Matthew 14:22-33 Sometimes obeying the Lord feels as if we’re taking a chance. Like Peter, we may find ourselves in a precarious situation, overcome by fear. Although life is filled with uncertainties, biblical truths never change. As we focus on them, we’ll be able to obey with confidence—not in our desired outcome, but in the Lord’s faithfulness.  We can count on God being with us.   It’s impossible for believers to live a single day without His presence because our relationship with Him through our Savior Jesus Christ is a permanent one (Heb. l3:5). God’s love for us is deep and abiding, and His promises are sure. When He calls us to leave our “comfort zone,” we can obey because He’s there at our side.  God’s enabling power is ours.   The Holy Spirit gives us divine strength to do what the Father says. Obedience isn’t achieved by self-effort but by complete dependence on the Lord. His grace is sufficien