Welcome to the Linger podcast. Today we will be reading from Ephesians 1:1-12 The Message Paraphrase To linger means to abide, to remain, to stay for a length of time, to become affected by the presence of where we are staying. . Ephesians 1:1-12 The Message Paraphrase 1-2 I, Paul, am under God’s plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. The God of Glory 3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. 7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. 11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. . Breath Prayer from today's passage: (Taking slow breath in and releasing slow breath out.) Breathe in and say: "It's in Christ" Breathe out: "I discover my purpose." (repeat) . Resources from Today's Linger: Linger In His Presence Soul Care Journals available here.Where to find Pamela • Instagram: @pamelanelsonministries • Facebook: @pamelanelsonmt • YouTube: @pamelanelsonministries Subscribe Here Website: Single Step Consulting . Music: A New Sleep by Arden Forest, Canva License