A PRAYER FOR YOU AND THOSE YOU LOVE
Ephesians 1:15-19 CSB
15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.
If you ask many believers about their prayer life the conversation can go quiet. Or awkward. But today, our verses reveal a Holy Spirit inspired prayer we can pray for others and for ourselves.
Paul is praying for the church at Ephesus. Because his prayer is recorded, we can conclude a couple of things. One, this prayer is the will of God for that church. Two, if this prayer was applied to the church at Ephesus, it still applies to the church today in whatever town you live in. God’s word does not expire, and prayers for the church are still viable in the church today.
Paul is praying that the believers would be enlightened. Keep in mind that Paul did not have regular contact with the Ephesian church. It’s not as if he could pick up a phone or watch their services online. Paul’s prayers were particularly important because his personal counsel and input were limited. He knew that prayer was a way to stay spiritually connected.
Paul did not pray that the church would be blessed. He did not pray that the church would not have any problems. He prayed for enlightenment, that the church would see what belonged to them as children of God. That the believers would be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. What a great thing to realize that we can grow and expand our knowledge and understanding of the living God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Paul prayed that our heart, or our spirit, would be enlightened so that we would know what the hope or expectation is of what God has called us to. All of us are called or invited into God’s plan, not just preachers. Paul prayed that we might know the immense wealth of what belongs to us who belong to Christ. We have an inheritance that includes the gift of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, freedom from Satan and the works of darkness, strength, healing for mind and body, guidance, and provision. When God says what He has for us is rich, He isn’t hyping things. He is the God of fullness and abundance in every area. The key is that we must see it. This is why Paul was praying for enlightenment.
And finally, that we might know the immeasurable greatness of God’s power to us who believe. The power God used in raising Jesus from the dead. I don’t believe we can know enough about the power of God, and I certainly want to know more. Much more.
APPLICATION
The application here is straightforward. Put the name of those believers you know and love and want to see enlightened into this prayer. This is a great prayer for those who have known the Lord and have fallen away. They just don’t see it and need to literally see the light. No pun intended. So this would be: Father, I pray that you would give _________ the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You.
And you can put your name in this prayer for yourself. So, Father, I pray that you would give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. I pray that the eyes of my heart …
PRAYER
Okay, now take this Ephesian prayer and pray for others and yourself. Don’t worry about doing things wrong; this is a low-risk, high-return prayer.