Saturday 21st December
Read Ephesians 3:16-19
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (NIVUK)
This prayer finishes the more ‘theoretical’ part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. The remaining three chapters focus on more practical matters of faith, how they (and we) should live. Paul’s prayer is therefore not merely ‘beautiful words’ but is incredibly practical as it outlines what they need to live out the faith they profess.
They need power in their inmost being. Power to resist the desires of the world, the flesh and the devil. They also need knowledge of the immense love of Christ, but this love is not merely ‘theoretical’ it is to be experienced. Paul prays that they will know the love of Christ in their heads and hearts and it would overflow from them. That is what they, and we, need to live out the faith we profess.
Why not spend time in prayer for others today using this prayer as a guide?
