For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14–21
In Ephesians 3, Paul pauses in his letter to the church in Ephesus to offer a prayer. It is a powerful, heartfelt prayer for believers—a prayer that God would strengthen them through His Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts, and that they would be rooted in love.
As fellow believers, this prayer is just as important for us to consider today.
Toward the very end, the Holy Spirit draws an interesting connection that you may not have considered before.
He writes that his goal is that we, as followers of Christ, would be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
A powerful request. One that I’m sure we all desire to be true of ourselves—to be filled with the fullness of God.
But notice how that fullness comes.
It occurs when we grasp the richness of God’s love for us!
His prayer for us is that we would “know this love that surpasses knowledge—so that we may be filled with the fullness of God.”
In other words, the understanding of God’s love changes us. It is not merely true that God loves us. But that love is so great, the more we comprehend it, the more we are changed and empowered because of it!
And maybe that’s something we all need to be reminded of, and focus on, today.
We are not filled with the fullness of God by focusing on our failures.
We are not transformed by shame or fear or regret.
We are changed—and filled—when we grasp how wide, long, high, and deep the love of Christ is for us.
So if your soul feels empty today, start by reflecting on His love. Truly. Pause for a moment, before going on with your day, to sit and soak in the reality of God’s great love for you.
How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life? Where have you noticed His work in your life this week? Or how does Christ’s life and death on the cross reflect the vastness of His love for your soul today?
We are deeply loved by God. The Holy Spirit wants us to understand that as best we can. Because when we do, we are in a better position to be entirely filled by Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus and your great love for us. Help me today, in new and greater ways, see and understand your love for me. Show me, in deep truth that speaks to my soul, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep your love truly is. Amen.