Eph. 1:15-23
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
“Please bless mummy, please bless daddy, please bless nana…” This is how my little ones would pray for everyone they knew when they were toddlers. Sometimes the list would go on and on as they were prolonging going to sleep and I would have to try and politely cut it off somehow and assure that God knew and would bless them.
Paul’s prayer for his fellow Christians is so grand and complex and marvellous and glorious that as I read the prayer, each new sentence seems to be a new ‘wow’ moment. He is praying for them that they would know God better and comprehend and appreciate their hope, their inheritance and God’s power. My prayers for my brothers and sisters tend to resemble more the prayers my girls used to pray when they were little rather than Paul’s rich prayers for his fellow believers.
Read the above prayer again and just meditate on each sentence. Be in awe of God’s power and glory. Consider praying the above prayer for one or more of your fellow believers and sending it to them as a message to encourage them.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I am so humbled by Paul’s prayer for the believers. My prayers seem so small, self-centered and problem-centered in comparison. Please teach me to pray wonderful prayers that are centered in you and not limited by the degree of my faith but only by your limitless power. Give my brothers and sisters and myself the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know you better. Amen.
A song to listen to: Spirit of Jesus
Petrina Rangiawha
Living Church – Creek Road
