A Daily Devotion for Wednesday, August 12
Ephesians 4:17-24
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
This is a well known dynamic for us humans. When we are upset and confused, we return to the old and comfortable to feel settled again, or at least to feel “normal.” Sometimes we forget everything we have learned and go way back to something inherently unhealthy. We need to really pay attention and concentrate when we are put to the test to use our new, more effective skills. I can think of many times in my own life when I have missed the mark in such situations. God does not have this problem, however. If I can remember to look to God, to remember Jesus, I will be reminded of the better way. The Holy Spirit is always pointing me in the better direction, if I just stop to listen.
Holy Lord, help me today to choose the better way to handle conflict and uncertainty. Help me to remember all that I have learned, and if I forget all of that, help me to simply turn to you for direction. Amen
Becky, transforming
Ephesians 4:17:24
Today’s times apply. This could be any of the distracting forces all around. Temptation to lose all sensitivity, to indulge in impurity, to be greedy. How many dark places have I been? The past does not matter now, what matters is that I have put off “my old self” and moved on as my “new self”. As in Romans 6:4 “just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”.
Heavenly Father, please help me to live my new life walking with You. Amen
Ephesians 4:17-24. Leaving the Familiar
Our oldest daughter always had high powered, high paying jobs. She worked in Human Resources often in charge of global compensation. During and after COVID she worked remotely and hated it! She loves working with people and needed coworkers. When she left that job, she started to search for similar jobs, just not remote. She ultimately realized it was time for a change. Through some trial and error she has discovered her love for helping people. She currently works as a personal assistant in a group home for physically and mentally disabled adults. She take care of their every need. It is certainly not a high paying career but there is so much satisfactio…
Daily Devotions (Upper Room)
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026
Leaving The Familiar
(focus: For Courage To Move Forward In Faith
Today’s Reading: Ephesians 4:17-24
Ephesians 4:22-23
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Verse 22 basically tells us to stop acting incorrectly which might be having corrupted thoughts and deceitful desires. Verse 23 tells us to continually be renewed in our minds having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. Jesus wanted to change the condition of our mind and heart. Nothing we have done five minutes or five years ago can ever make God love us any less! …
Ephesians 4:17-24
Old self - new self. These are concepts that are foreign to one who has not had an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Paul’s words, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,” reminds me of his similar message in Romans 12:1-2. If our professed belief does not lead to transformation, it is an empty exercise. This is the core mission of the Transformers. We want to engage Scripture, let it renew our minds and move incrementally along the path to sanctification. I am…