Surrounded By Prayer

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's second reading. This was shared electronically with God's people at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. 

Ephesians 3:14-21 

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Reading this passage gives me chills and hope. There is so much Paul was praying for that the Ephesian believers would experience. Can you feel the love in this passage? Then to cap it off, is a doxology exalting God who accomplishes more than one can ask or imagine. He really piles on the images, doesn’t he?

These are words of hope for us as well, for “every family in heaven and on earth…” We are connected with those early believers and believers all over the world. These are not only prayers for us as individuals, or just for St. Timothy, but for us as the universal church. 

Paul prays it all for this reason, “…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (v. 19). That is the “So what?” of this prayer and what a doozy it is! This is not something that we can do or make happen, but it is through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Do you or have you ever had a prayer partner who surrounds you with God’s love and courage? Do you have a close Christian friend you can touch base with on a regular basis to pray together? I have a few people that I know I can count on to hold me up in prayer. If you do not have someone, remember that I pray for you and that God prays for you, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).