Paul’s Prayers part 1

This prayer is not like our prayers.

Let’s start by looking at Ephesians 1:17-19:

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. 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. That power is the same as the mighty strength…

Have you ever prayed this for someone? It’s good and right to pray for Aunt Mabel’s arthritis. But there’s a wealth here worth noticing — and using.

Paul persists. He says “I keep asking.” Can we persist in praying for people who aren’t our relatives? It isn’t easy for me, but Paul’s example pushes me toward it.

Paul prays to the Father. He describes the Lord Jesus as having a God, and directs his prayer there.

Then, what does he actually pray? That we might have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.  This is different from simply praying for wisdom and revelation. The gap between what Paul was thinking and what I usually pray still catches me off guard. We need the Spirit who holds these things, and then, apparently, we will have them too. They help us know the Father better. Hurray.

Paul goes on to pray for the enlightening of our eyes, which carries a threefold benefit:

1. That we may know the hope God has given us
2. The riches of his glorious inheritance in us — his love, sonship, eternal life, and heaven come to mind immediately, though Paul doesn’t limit the topic
3. His incomparably great power for us — the same power I still stand in faith on against all the Devil’s schemes

Surely Aunt Mabel needs this more than simple pain relief. Let’s pray both/and.

Now, let’s pray Paul’s prayer.

Stop for a moment and pray this for someone you know — insert their name wherever Paul says “you.”

Welcome back. A prayer this powerful deserves to be used. Neither Paul nor our Heavenly Father says we must pray this every time, but we’d be unwise to leave it sitting on the shelf.