June 21, 2023
Everyone needs a power beyond their own resources. Tragically, most do not realize it is abundantly available to them through Christ ... all the power they will every need!
One of the great tools we have in prayer is the Scripture. Every word of the Scripture can and should be prayed. Prayer should be Word-fed, Spirit-led, and worship-based. Here is a sample of how to pray through one of Paul's greatest prayers, Ephesians 3:14-21. Read this Scripture (in bold letters) and then go back and PRAY it through.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
Lord, thank you that you're my great Father, and thank you for all that means to me this morning. I gladly and humbly bow before your Lordship. Lord, is there anything I am withholding from your rule?
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
Father, thank you that everything comes from you. Every father is a father because of You, and we are a family because of You! Your fatherhood is our model for fatherhood. Thank You that it is a perfect model for us. Lord, is there anything You want to show me, as my perfect Father, about leading my family today?
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Father, thank You for the RICHES of Your glory! Those riches are inexhaustible, and they are available to me! Thank You that all I need is found in You!
Lord, I need strength today in my inner man. I have such a struggle with _______. Would you strengthen me to resist this temptation? Give me deliberate grace internally to say NO to myself and YES to You.
I need strength for the tasks ahead today. I need physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual strength. You are strength, and You live in me. Be my strength today!
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
Lord, I want You to dwell—settle down and be at rest—in me today. I throw open every door of my heart and life to let you be in charge of each room—my thoughts, affections, social life, family, secret closets, work life, etc. I ask You to make Yourself known in me, and I trust You to do this, Lord.
and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
Lord, root and ground me in Your love. Let it be the well from which everything springs up in my life. Give me a new understanding and experience of the "breadth and length and height and depth" of Your love! Let Your love for me overwhelm me and provide my security.
that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Father, I pray for your FULLNESS to fill me today. What a glorious thought! I yield every area to You with glad submission and no resistance. Flood me and fill me with Your Spirit and flow through me today!
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
Thank You, Lord, for Your complete power and sufficiency. You can do beyond all that I could ask or even think. And thank You that this power is made available to me and all those I am praying for today. Thank You that Your power is working within us—that we are never working alone.
21 To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
As always, Father, I pray that You would be glorified in my life, my family, and our church and that this glory would extend throughout my life and for all generations!
Now, as you have prayed this personally for yourself, go back and use this Biblical template to pray for someone around you who is in need. Personalize it on their behalf. (This is a great prayer for your family each day.)
And keep praying without ceasing! This would be a wonderful prayer to memorize so it would be ready in your heart and on your lips in prayer for the rest of your life!
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