For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us – to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
My words…
Praise
Lord, You know how much my soul thirsts for knowing more about what is hidden – unseen. Even though I may only comprehend an infinitesimal part of You, I do understand, without doubt, that You, in spirit form, dwell within me. I have an inner self, an unseen self, where You stepped into when I opened my faith door. When You arrived, my inner self resembled a hovel – dank, dark, with the floor covered in dirt and cobwebs hanging in the corners. The walls dripped with the slime of my thoughts and intents: “I like being in control of my own life, thank you.” “Don’t expect too much from me – there are things I need to do.” “I’m a pretty good person – I pay my taxes, even on my online purchases (most of the time).” No place for a Savior King, that’s for sure. I tried to tidy up, but when I swept up the dirt and threw it out the door, another pile had accumulated when my back was turned. Then a miracle happened. You began to clean my dark, dank, cobweb-ridden hovel. And you’re still cleaning. It’s only by Your power that I have learned, over the years, to be less messy.
Prayer for me
Remind me, Lord, every day that You are my strength. Your Spirit stretches and empowers my spirit to grow, to build spirit muscle so I am able to do hard things and still stand when the task is done.
Forgive me
Forgive me when I rob You of Your glory by taking credit for anything good or worthwhile that I have done. It is only by Your power that I am able to look beyond myself and do what makes You proud. And forgive me when I don’t do what is good nearly often enough. I am really good at closing my ears to Your prompting.
Thank You
Lord, I thank You for interrupting Paul’s journey to Damascus. From that one act, You set in motion a whirlwind of salvation. And now, all these centuries later, I can read from this fellow disciple and prayer-writer words that transform my day, my life, my eternity.
More praise
Lord, the dimensions of Your love are immeasurable. And the most humbling incomprehensible aspect of Your love is that it flows from You to me. If I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t believe it. But I know – from Your Spirit living in me – that it is true. And that truth is the reason You scoured my hovel and transformed it into a palace fit for a Savior King.
