Compare How You Pray to How Paul Prays

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Today’s Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

And this is what he prays:

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

He prays that they might have an “apocalypse” [remember, “apocalypse” doesn’t mean end of the world—it means to reveal or uncover something, and it is that word that is here translated “revelation”] and see things as they really are.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Paul wants them to have spiritual insight into the hope and future that God has for them, and to know that God’s power is stronger than any rival power.

That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

And the clearest evidence of God’s power is the Resurrection of Jesus. Not only was Jesus raised from the dead, but he’s now ruling over all rival powers.

 
 

Is that how you pray? Paul wants God to give the Ephesians an apocalypse, thereby revealing his power to them.

This is certainly not how I normally pray. Seems like it’s time to start.