PRAYER’S RELEASE
Prayer is the single most effective discipline for releasing God to do a work in our lives. In Ephesians 3 we find Paul encouraging the church through prayer. His specific desire for the Church served as a catalyst to embolden, encourage, and motivate the Church to fix their eyes on Jesus. In a world that bargains for our attentions, twists our thoughts, and challenges our every belief – prayers like Paul’s should become a staple in the life of every Christian. Lets take a look at what Paul specifically prayed and the impact it could have on our lives today!
PRAYING FOR STRENGTH – Ephesians 3:14-16
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
The Spirit of God strengthens us from the inside out. The prayer for strength serves the Christian by reminding us that it is not our strength that gets us through hard times or helps us sore through the good times. It is the Spirit of God that replaces our weakness with His strength. Never are we promised that this strength will bring us victory over the obstacles of life, but we are promised that it will sustain us.
PRAYING CHRIST DWELLS IN YOU THROUGH FAITH – EPHESIANS 3:17a
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—
Faith is the conduit that reveals the depths of Christ’s consumption of our heart. Praying that Christ may live in our hearts gives us eternal perspective. This prayer serves as a reminder of our position in Christ. We no longer live for our self. Christ lives through us. Our heart beats for Him. Our desires are His. Our lives are so fixed on what brings Him pleasure that nothing can distract, defeat, or derail us from Christ.
PRAYING WE COMPREHEND GOD’S MAGNITUDE – Ephesians 3:17b -18
That you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
The more we long to understand the magnitude of God the more we realize that it’s inconceivable, but every truth we learn about God grows our faith and confidence in Him alone. One day we will know him perfectly. This side of heaven praying to know him more gives us more of a heavenly mindset. Growing in our knowledge of God solidifies our faith and gives our hope something tangible to hold on to.
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PRAYING TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST – Ephesians 3:19a
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
To know the love of Christ is to know the very reason for all creation. If we can know the love of Christ then what can misdirect, discourage, embittered, or distract us from being consumed with His love? If we are consumed by His love then our families and friends will be influenced by the love of God. It’s inescapable. This prayer should be the hearts cry of every believer.
PRAYING TO BE FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD – Ephesians 3:19b
That you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
If we are fully consumed by the fullness of God there is no room for anything else. The fullness of God is true, right, holy, and complete – love. What else is there? In essence this is a prayer that God chisel away all the self and sin that distracts me from knowing God.
CLICK HERE to see God’s chisel at work.
PRAYING – TO GOD BE THE GLORY – EPHESIANS 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Our life’s journey in its entirety is a snapshot of the Glory of God. Are you Glorifying God through your life, actions, thoughts, and relationships? Could you benefit from praying for these specific things to be more alive in you? Do you know people that could benefit from pray like this?
PRAY WITH OTHERS, FOR OTHERS, AND INSPITE OF OTHERS…ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
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