Ecclesiastes 4-6, Psalm 18, Ephesians 3

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…” Ephesians 3:14

Paul took his role as steward of the saints very seriously. Here we read one of the most powerful prayers throughout scripture in Ephesians 3:14-21. When one reads this portion of scripture, there is no doubt that Paul was a seasoned prayer warrior and that he prayed fervently for the body of Christ. He prayed that we would be strong in the Lord—a power that overcomes the strategy of the enemy and breaks strongholds (Ephesians 6). In verse 17, the prayer continues, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” Now, "that Christ might be at home in your hearts" means that your heart might be so in tune and all with Him that as He dwells within your heart there is no strain, there is no uncomfortableness with or for Him. We read often of prophets and followers who found this place of complete comfort in their relationship with Christ and as a model, we also desire this type of relationship. Pastor spoke on this relationship last week when he spoke about coming just face to face with the Lord. This kind of encounter transforms us in to a place of true communion. Paul’s prayer was that the body of Christ would each understand their position in Christ and what that powerful place of authority brings to those who ‘know’ the love of Christ, being filled with the ‘fullness’ of God. How can we be filled with the fullness of God when not even the heavens can contain Him? This is a supernatural thing! Have you ever limited God by your own limitations? You know, we can carry our limitations over in to the spirit realm. We might even categorize things and say: that is very easy, that is simple, no problem, oh that one, that one is impossible, that one is really too hard. This carries over in to our prayer times. “Lord this isn’t that difficult of a thing—I think You can handle this.” Or, Wow, Lord, this one is really hard, I don’t know.” On the other hand, maybe even worse, we do not even ask. Then, right when we think God has not heard us or it is just too hard, God wows us with something miraculous. Paul closes this prayer with “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…” (v. 20) He prays with a confidence and that is how we should pray—an unwavering faith that God is able and willing to do the impossible ‘according’ to the power that works in each of us. This kind of prayer brings glory to God because we are able to see God do the impossible when we pray with that kind of confidence.

Believing with you!
Carol

Next Reading: Ecclesiastes 7-9, Ephesians 4