My Prayer? That You Would Know . . . .

Daily Bread

Daily Devotions with Pastor Chuck

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Fom the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus,

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19 – NASB)

What is it you pray for when you pray for other “saints?” Do you pray they will find a job, or that they’ll be able to sell their house, or maybe, that they’ll get over the cold that is weighing them down? Do you pray that they’ll get along better with their siblings or that they’ll be able to find the right car to drive?

I’m of the mind that these things can be tabled before our Lord, but let me suggest that, as you and I progress in our knowledge of the Word of God, as we mature and are being conformed more and more into the image of Christ, our prayer life should be dramatically affected by the Scriptures.

I suggest to you that if we are in the Scriptures, reading and studying them as the Lord would have us do, our prayer life will be changed drastically. For within the Word are lessons in prayer, lessons on how the Lord would have us pray for one another.

Note our text. It is a prayer offered up by the apostle Paul for the “saints” he was writing to. He wants “the eyes of (their) heart” to “be enlightened.” He wants them to be “know” specific things, to have a “heart” that is like Christ’s heart, able to comprehend God’s will for His people. Praying God’s will for his readers, Paul wants them to have a “heart” that understands, that perceives certain very important things.

“that you may know what is the hope of His calling”

We pray for one another that we might “know what is the hope” that God has for us, “the hope of His calling.” This “hope,” is it not that which God has for every soul He has saved? Is it not something every Christian needs to “know?” That God, in “His calling” of us, wants us to “know” that He desires that we be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). That is “the hope of His calling” of us!

“. . . what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”

Oh yes! Pray, Paul says, that we, the “saints,” might “know . . . what are the riches of the glory” that is to come! That “inheritance . . . . . His inheritance,” that God has for His “saints,” that is made evident to the world “in the saints.” Brethren, no matter your state here on this planet, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance” are revealed in His Word and they are a treasure to one day be fully realized.

And finally,

“. . . what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe”

Pray, that we, the “saints,” might “know . . . what is the surpassing greatness of His power!” That “power” that raised Jesus, “know” that it can also raise us (note verses 20-22), that “power” that is able to save us from the penalty due our sin; It is God’s power” and it works in our very being (cf. 3:20-21) . . . that life-giving “power” that He has “toward us who believe.”

Ever pray this way for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Ever offer these substance prayers up to God for those you pray for?

The Lord teaches us in His Word how we are to pray for one another. This prayer here is just one of many that clearly expresses the will of God for our prayer life . . . . written down and passed down that you would “know” how it is you ought to pray.

Have a good day . . . and as you walk be in the Scriptures, and let them conform your prayer life to be like His prayer life.