Sorry about the off and on habit of the Devotions this summer. I have a tough time keeping up while I'm traveling. But I'm back and ready to get in some good stuff for you every week this fall!

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Eph. 3:16-17)

Every night I stand over my son lying in his crib. I take a few minutes to pray over him. I pray for the man I hope he will become. I pray for his salvation and his safety. I pray that he will be compassionate, courageous, and inspiring.

I can relate to the Apostle Paul as he writes to the church in Ephesus. These people were like his "spiritual children". There were specific things he would pray about for them. He longed for the power of Christ to be made known in their hearts and lived out in their lives. There is something simple yet deeply profound about this prayer that Paul writes.

Remember, he is writing to the people of the church. He isn't talking about Christ dwelling in their hearts in the context of salvation. He is talking about something beyond salvation. I believe he is talking about transformation. He longs for Christ to not merely take up residence in their hearts but to transform it!

There is a large difference between being saved and living saved. You have been given new life but are you living out of it? Are you allowing Christ to transform you from the inside out or are you still trying to do things your way? The life you now live is not your own. Scripture says through salvation it has been bought at a price. There is freedom when we live out of the heart that Jesus transforms. When we live out of our self-focused heart there is only burden. Christ has given us opportunity to live out of his life and truth.

There is a heart that Jesus wants to transform within you to be more free, to live in power, and to be more like him. This began's to happen when we release the old, broken, and wounded heart in exchange for living out of our new heart in Christ. Start with this simple first step. Wake up tomorrow and ask God what his schedule is for you. What would he have you do? How would he have you live and express your new life and your new heart in each situation and relationship.

Allow God to take up the center of your desire to live.

- Josh