I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
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.
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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:16-23
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Are you looking for a new way to pray for your family and friends?
If so, Paul offers us a powerful prayer in Ephesians 1.
In Ephesians, Paul writes to the church and tells them exactly how he has been praying for them. And I can’t think of any place to find inspiration for a prayer better than the Word of God itself.
It is a prayer that you could easily pray verbatim for those God lays on your heart.
I’ll repeat it here again in its various parts:
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.
And also:
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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Keep this devotional open in front of you right now, and say a prayer for the first person that comes to mind. Insert their name directly into the prayer like this:
Lord, I pray for “Jim.” I pray that you would give him the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he may know you better.
What an amazing gift! To know God better. Is there anything more important that we could pray for another human being?
And continue: I pray that “Jim’s” heart may be enlightened so that he may know the hope to which he has been called, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in his holy people, and the Lord’s incomparably great power for those who believe.
What a change that would make in a person’s life! To have our heart opened to the hope, riches, and power of God available to us!
Before you end this Focus on Faith Newsletter today, pray that simple prayer for as many names as God brings to your heart—your family, your friends, even your enemies if God brings them to you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, use my prayers today to bring about your will in the lives of people. And the prayer for others is the prayer I pray for myself. Give me the Spirit of wisdom and and revelation so I may know you better. And open the eyes of my heart so that I know the hope to which you have called me, the riches of your glorious inheritance, and the incomparably great power you have given to those who believe. Amen.