Paul's Prayer for Ephesus and YOU

I opened my Bible to read Ephesians 3:20. It's a wonderful, familiar verse about God doing exceeding abundantly more than we ask or think. I enjoy that verse so much, but then I started reading some of the verses just prior to that and I decided to share that with you today.

Ephesians 3:14-19

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Paul is writing a letter to the saints in Ephesus. He says the reason he bows his knees to God in Jesus' name is to pray for them! He is asking God to grant them strength in their inner man according to God's glory by the Holy Spirit. Why would he be concerned about strengthening their inner man? The inner man is the spirit. He wants Jesus to live in their hearts by faith so that they are firmly planted in His love.  He desires for them to experience the immeasurable love of Jesus. The measurements are beyond what we can imagine. This experience will enable them to be filled with all the fullness of God. 

This letter is an example of what Jesus wants us all to experience. He granted Paul's prayer to the saints at Ephesus and then reached through the expanse of time and granted it for every believer in the body of Christ. He wants to show us the breadth, length, depth, and height of His great love for us. As we become rooted and grounded in that great love, we will be filled with all the fullness of God.

Every good gift, every perfect gift is from the Father. He withholds no good thing from His children. It is His pleasure to give us the Kingdom. If you are a believer, this prayer was granted for you, along with the saints at Ephesus. Have you truly experienced the unconditional, unending, everlasting, overwhelming love of God? You do not earn it. It is not what you do or say that makes you more lovable to God. He loves you completely because He made you. You are His creation. You are His child if you have accepted the free gift of salvation paid for by the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can do it today! Just admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Repent of the things you have done wrong whether knowingly or unknowingly. Confess that Jesus is the Son of God and if you believe in your heart you are saved. Tell someone about it. Welcome to the family of God. Find a good church to go to that preaches the truth without compromise. This love is so wonderful that you have to experience it for yourself.

I hope that today's reading has encouraged you in some way. I pray that it has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens